Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical at Stratford East Review
Photo by Mark Senior.
Written by Eleanor for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
In September 2017 a story went viral where, after a first date, a woman became trapped in a bathroom window trying to retrieve her own poo. This ridiculous story gained widespread media coverage and sent social media into a frenzy.
It was from this true story that James Cooper was inspired to write Lovestuck: A New Comedy Musical, centred around the ‘worst date ever’ and how people should learn to love themselves fully and be accepting of their flaws.
Written by Copper and Directed by Jamie Morton, who are most well known for the ever popular podcast ‘My Dad Wrote a Porno,’ this new rom com is bursting with humour and relatable emotional beats. Even with the unbelievable central plot and zany characters, Lovestuck is a heartfelt and wonderful new piece of theatre which I would wholeheartedly recommend to my single and partnered friends alike.
From the very beginning, we are made aware of the humorous turn Lovestuck will take. The first act then follows how our central characters, Peter (Shane O'Riordan) and Lucy (Ambra Caserotti), find themselves in this situation, with the second act dealing with the fallout. This creates a solid structure that lends itself to good pacing, with satisfying endings for both acts. Cooper’s book allows us to quickly understand and get to know all the central characters from the start, and I found myself warming to them very quickly. The small ensemble is beneficial here because it lets us focus clearly on the main characters.
As a lover of the podcast, I knew I would be particularly drawn to Cooper and Morton’s style of humour, and I was not disappointed. Although overly silly and crass at times, the cast quickly got the audience on side from the very first opening line, and I was laughing throughout. I particularly enjoyed the nerdiness of Peter and his constant happy-go-lucky attitude, as well as the sassiness of Miseraie, the critical voice in Lucy’s head. Particular mention must also be given to the excellent use of narration from Alison Steadman, who elevates every scene her voiceover is part of.
Alongside the text, a major strength of this production is the excellent pop score by Bryn Christopher and Martin Batchelar, with lyrics by Christopher and Cooper. Although it could be argued that one or two of the ballads could be excluded from the overall score, every song helps progress the story and reveals more about the characters, while also being incredibly catchy and funny. The titular track, ‘Lovestuck’, perfectly encapsulates the issues both Peter and Lucy are facing at that time and sets up their first meeting. I also loved ‘Underneath’, performed by Peter and an estate agent while he’s viewing a flat. Again, this stood out both for the sentiment behind the song and the brilliant comedy the actors brought to the performance. Christopher’s full track list is one I can see myself returning to time and time again.
Although the set design and costuming (both by Tom Rogers) is relatively simple, I loved how the yellow and purple colour scheme was carried throughout. The continued inclusion of windows in the set meant they remained an ever present theme, with the way a prop window is used for the song ‘Girl in The Window’ being particularly noteworthy.
Lovestuck, as a show, is perfectly cast. You get a real sense from their performances that they’re a tight-knit group, which brings even more believability to the close relationships within the story. Shane O'Riordan, who played Peter, was a lovable and convincing nerd. His passion for LARPing and model-making, as well as the way he interacted with other characters, was both joyful and a delight to watch. Bridgette Amofah, as Cassandra and Miseraie, also gave a standout performance - not only through her sassy dialogue and strong vocal delivery, but also in her reactions to the other characters on stage, especially during numbers like ‘More or Less.’ Marcus Ayton and Johan Munir as the best friends of Lucy and Peter were perfect foils and supporters of the leads. They helped to deepen the main characters’ stories while also creating fully rounded, funny characters of their own. The ensemble is made up of Callum Connolly, Jessica Hunt, and Holly Liburd. They brought excellent comic characterisation to a wide range of over-the-top roles; from hospital patients, to party goers, to a group of cats. I particularly loved Connolly as the estate agent. He was brilliantly funny, exaggerated, but still a recognisable character.
Special praise must go to Ambra Caserotti, who is currently stepping into the lead role of Lucy following a cast injury. Her vocals and comic timing were spot on and she completely won me over. You genuinely find yourself rooting for her and Peter to succeed and find each other.
Lovestuck is a brilliant and heartfelt musical that balances humour with genuine emotion. With strong performances, fun songs, and a heartfelt message, it was a joy from start to finish.
Lovestuck is playing at Stratford East from the 6th June –12th July 2025.
★★★★★
