Sophie Craig’s devastating fringe hit will leave you in tears
★★★★★
When a play can make you laugh and cry within the same sentence you know it's something special. Sophie Craig’s delicate masterpiece simultaneously unpacks the early months of a budding relationship and the impending loss of a parent. The two narratives collide at the speed of bullets, the sparks emanating from them equally wonderful and heartbreaking. With three tour de force performances and empathy-infused direction, Craig’s script is brought to life in a faultless evening of theatre.
As the play begins, Ava (played by actor and writer Sophie Craig) reveals that her dad (Ian Puleston-Davies), her “habitual bloody botherer” has received a terminal brain cancer diagnosis, he is still here but robbed of a further future. Interspersed with this devastating news is the promising start of a new relationship with actor Theo (Andy Umerah), the familiar fumbles and formalities of innocent romance delightfully present and hopeful. Ava begins to struggle as her world shifts, the ground beneath her feet unsure and fearful and when the worst happens the effects ripple outwards. Like a brilliant cross between a heartwarming Richard Curtis flick and a gut-wrenching tragedy, this production is the complete package.
Craig’s writing is oh-so honest and engaging. Somehow condensing lifelong relationships into single lines, she has us utterly understanding who these characters are and we cannot help but care. She guides us through complex and often uncomfortable topics such as anticipatory grief, one which many have experienced but rarely discuss. Accompanying the script is deliberate and caring direction from Toby Clarke and considered movement direction from Sean Hollands. The pair have paced the piece to perfection, holding absolute stillness in Ava’s grief and her father’s deteriorating condition. They have tapped into the flow of the narrative, truly extracting the best from the assembled cast and have found a dynamism that amplifies the natural, grounded nature of the script.
The movement of the production centres around a piano, Ava’s dad being a keen musician and Ava herself, a composer. As the play progresses the piano pivots and opens forming the backdrop for a series of locations before completely splitting as Ava’s world crumbles. This is intelligent design used superbly, the two halves severed, roving like tectonic plates forming a new, unfamiliar landscape.
Much of the success of this production lies within the three outstanding performances from the cast. As Ava, Sophie Craig is charming and awkward, but her unwavering devotion to her dad is unparalleled. Craig shines in the complexity of the character, excellently articulating the varying emotions without falling into the obvious stereotypical tropes. Andy Umerah’s Theo is equally clumsy and endearing, unsure how to handle the whirlwind that has entered his life. Umerah strikes a keen distinction between the before and after, the humour dissipating as he struggles to connect with the woman he loves. Finally, as Ava’s dad and later as her therapist, Ian Puleston-Davies has what must be a career highlight. Often saying very little he manages to communicate paragraphs with a single glance and masterfully manages the physicality changes as his character experiences a life-altering stroke. It is a dignified and thoughtful performance that left me in tears - impeccable casting with compelling chemistry.
I Love You, Now What is an unquestionable triumph of storytelling that must be experienced.
Running until 24th August - Tickets
Photography - Lidia Crisafulli
