ED FRINGE 2023 Review | Actually, Love - GOYA Theatre Company
★ ★ ★ ★
Reviewer - Jacqueline
Everybody loves a romcom, right? The cliches, the predictability, the inevitable airport chase scene… In GOYA theatre’s Actually, Love, we as an audience are asked to challenge our perceptions of romcoms.
Tensions are high when eternal pessimist and attempted songwriter Alex ends up reuniting with former flame Stevie in a rehearsal studio. Stevie has reached the final two in an audition for a major Hollywood blockbuster… and Alex couldn’t be more displeased. As the pair run lines together, they explore many of the cliches of romcoms that audiences have come to love- the overbearing mother, the classic ‘meet-cute’ in a park, the ‘quirky’ female lead who is somehow always incompetent at her job… and the inevitable sassy gay best friend who serves only as a prop to make our lead characters look more diverse. As Alex continues to criticise each element of the romcom in question, he and Stevie’s walls begin to crash as questions are asked and old wounds are reopened.
This is a charming and heartfelt story by the 2022 winners of the Musical Theatre Review Special Award featuring original music (influenced by some well-known pop performers) which enhances the plot and brings the show to an incredibly satisfying resolution. The two cast members effortlessly play off each other and bring the story to life through their charming and witty performances.
If you’re a fan of a good rom-com, or even a complete cynic, there is definitely something in this show for you.
Actually, Love runs until August 27th. Ticket information can be found on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website.
