A Song For The Lovers - The Lowry - 09/10/08 by Julia Taylor

Monkeywood Theatre’s production of ‘A Song For The Lovers’ , first presented at the 2006 24/7 Festival, has changed beyond recognition though it still deals with the problems of disability and forming friendships.

In an amusing twist, the three Labour characters become locked in a Conservative Club! The location is, however, irrelevant to the plot. One of the three, Catie, is played by the writer, Sarah McDonald Hughes. There is a poignant moment when she tells the details of her abuse by a man. I also like the way she relates to Davy, a retarded adult, when they discover they have a lot in common.

Martin Gibbons performance as Davy, who finds himself making friends for the first time in his life, is powerful. It’s not easy for an intelligent bloke to act as though he is dim-witted but Martin carries it off. I like the way he gazes lovingly at Catie when she buys him a drink and his recitation of the names of all the stations between Manchester and Liverpool, his Utopia.

The third member of the cast, Jenna, the bar maid is played by Francesca Waite. Francesca is better known on the other side of the footlights. For she works at The Lowry. Perhaps she is in the wrong job for in this play, she proves she is just as proficient on the stage as off it. I like the realistic bar set where she pours the drinks.

The three all have lovely Manc accents though, perhaps through a fault with the sound system, I found it difficult to hear the girls and, in particular, Sarah. However, Sarah shows promise as a writer. Her skill is especially evident at the end when the work reaches a powerful conclusion.

However, perhaps I’m old fashioned, but there were too many ‘f’ words for my liking. The Monkeywood Theatre Company has a reputation for performing innovative plays. I hope they keep going and come up with even more imaginative theatre in the future.