Love Labours Won centres around an argument as to the nature of love. Caesus declares that a man should woo as many women as possible in order to enjoy life. His companion Valentine states the case for monogamy. As each attempts to prove himself right, the men fall in lust with the same woman, Annabelle - and their girlfriends attempt to entice them back. Their machinations result in a play-within-a-play which all the characters perform. This leads both men to see the error of their ways and settle down with their long-suffering partners.

The script of the show was not the worst - a simple plot with a Shakespearean-esque format. Writer Ryan J-W Smith's verse was very basic; with crude rhymes and a combination of Elizabethan, lingo and modern swear-words which jarred nastily. Despite this, the play might have been watchable were it not for the dire performances.

Particularly so were the female actors playing men. Shouting and straining their voices in misguided attempts to appear bawdy, their words were often incomprehensible. The actor playing Caesus was embarrassing to watch, seemingly striving for comedy in the role but achieving only insincerity.

The direction resulted in much of the play being statically performed by actors on either side of the stage, with choreographed hyperbolic movements grating when they occasionally appeared. The two occasions of play-within-play which the director used - in which the actors were intentionally acting hammily and ridiculously - were indistinguishable from the scenes that bookended them.

The baring of Annabelle's breasts was offensive, unnecessary, and obtuse. Coming at a crucial point in the play, this element was surprising, distracting and ultimately pointless. The intention was presumably to offer Valentine the ultimate temptation, proving his higher feelings for Katherine by choosing her clothed self over a naked chest. This outcome had no resonance with the flimsy words of love espoused, and reeked of marketing ploy rather than good theatre.

The company ran a powerful advertising campaign for their production, promising free chocolate and nudity in an all-female cast. All three of these promises were kept, but couldn't blunt the disappointment of a wholly unenjoyable play.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Jade Allen - Caesus. Elizabeth Arends - Valentine. Emma Canalese - Annabelle. Clare Harlow - Julia. Emily Lawrence - Katherine. Victoria Porter - Edmund / Chorus. Caitlin Shannon - Edgar.

Company Credits: Writer / Director - Ryan J-W Smith. Technical Operators - Venue Staff. Company - Rogue Shakespeare Company.

END

(c) Sara Pascoe 2007

reviewed August 07 / Gilded Balloon

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com