Review: Love’s A Beach, Drayton Arms Theatre

Review: Love’s A Beach, Drayton Arms Theatre

As reviewers for Everything Theatre, a few of us take the “everything” extra actually than others, and I interpret this to incorporate embracing the pub beneath the theatre that’s the Drayton Arms. What an exquisite pub it’s! If you could have time and finances for a dinner earlier than the present, you gained’t be dissatisfied. The broccoli and chickpea salad is divine. But again to the actual purpose for my go to, the present!

Love’s a Beach is recent from a profitable run on the VAULT Festival, and pitches itself as an “ancient satire with a modern setting”. The trendy setting seems to be the house of L*ve Isl*nd’s first homosexual couple, as they navigate the superstar endorsements and sponsorship offers that observe their sudden fame. Cyrus (James Akka) is obsessed along with his have to hit a million followers, while Ben (Iain Ferrier) appears much less eager on the elusive numbers sport of the influencer. This is challenged once they’re supplied a tremendous sponsorship deal. But the catch is it’s in Dubai: not precisely a secure area for this couple.

Akka and Ferrier are immediately likeable, and really plausible as a pair. Akka performs the function of Cyrus with comical petulance and vanity, traits that emerge throughout the present, however he someway manages to remain finally likeable regardless of his naivety. Meanwhile, Ferrier as Ben, along with his pet food advertisements and clear ardour for the surroundings (or extra particularly, the beavers), is the more-lovable character. Quite a lot of comedic highlights come as they attempt to interact their followers or movie sponsored posts. The first moments of the present are a few of the funniest; “Live, Laugh, Leak” because the slogan for an grownup nappy model causes laughter to echo across the area.

It’s a present full of giggles and titters, and even occasional guffaws, but regardless of the plain satirical nature of the play there are some extra uncomfortable moments. The trivial method that ladies’s rights are glossed over is jarring, and while Cyrus might discover it boring, it doesn’t sit nicely with the viewers to have this repeatedly poked enjoyable at. Also, his whole denial of the very fact he might be executed for being homosexual in Dubai feels unrealistic. Considering his naivety, certainly being advised this by the one he loves ought to immediate some type of response. But maybe that is the purpose: he’s so obsessed along with his follower rely, it doesn’t matter.

The method that the route depicts the social media and cellphone centric life-style is intelligent, with Cyrus talking to the viewers as if we’re viewers of his Instagram dwell, or Ben’s clear frustration in textual content conversations which might be narrated to us as they’re typed. Sound results throughout scene adjustments are used to provide context to Ben and Cyrus’ fame, with social media feedback or gossip columns sharing the most recent scoop on one of many hottest actuality TV {couples} being learn out.

This is a present that pokes enjoyable on the influencer life-style and exhibits what can occur whenever you select fame over household and mates. However, the repercussions for Cyrus and Ben finally appear tame, and with its political undertones handled so flippantly you’re left wanting extra from the play. Having mentioned this, it’s a humorous present, with a layer of satire that’s scrumptious at instances, and it was clear that the viewers loved the sprinkling of jokes all through.

Written by Will Johnston and Katie Sayer
Directed by Phoebe Barrett
Technical route by Sam Frakes

Love’s A Beach performs at Drayton Arms Theatre till 29 April. Further data and bookings will be discovered right here.