Post by Talissa on Jul 2, 2008 19:32:21 GMT 11
A romantic song cycle from the writers of <i>The Hatpin</i>. Well, why not? At least there probably won't be any babies in this one. And besides, you know song cycles through and through, so there won't be any surprises. Right? Just you wait.
Lovebites is exactly what you'd expect from James Millar and Peter Rutherford. That is, expect anything. It starts off like any other song cycle, though with music that is probably funnier in its own right than most and quirky projections all hinting at the slightly twisted humour of its writers. The situations explored, however, aren't quite the ones that are regurgitated time and again in these pieces. The subject matter ranges from the silly to the sweet, but all with a big serving of truth that helps the most untheatrical of audiences identify.
It's Act Two, however, that makes the piece. Instead of going through the usual song cycle routine of mild hardship before happy ending, generally too scripted to quite be felt, Lovebites concentrates on one moment in each relationship where love really does bite, and once again ranging through the emotions in a beautiful array, really displaying the range of talent of writers and performers.
In short, it's something worth seeing by everyone, especially those who think they know song cycles through and through because I can promise you haven't seen this. After all, when else does a story-line begin with musical reference to a certain gory Sondheim musical and finish with, among other things, a pseudo-Valkyrie? Curious? Well, you'll have to head to the
Seymour Centre in Sydney to see it. A week and a half of performances left, so don't miss your chance! And if you can't make it to Sydney, keep your eyes on your local theatres and if it comes your way, don't miss out.
Lovebites is exactly what you'd expect from James Millar and Peter Rutherford. That is, expect anything. It starts off like any other song cycle, though with music that is probably funnier in its own right than most and quirky projections all hinting at the slightly twisted humour of its writers. The situations explored, however, aren't quite the ones that are regurgitated time and again in these pieces. The subject matter ranges from the silly to the sweet, but all with a big serving of truth that helps the most untheatrical of audiences identify.
It's Act Two, however, that makes the piece. Instead of going through the usual song cycle routine of mild hardship before happy ending, generally too scripted to quite be felt, Lovebites concentrates on one moment in each relationship where love really does bite, and once again ranging through the emotions in a beautiful array, really displaying the range of talent of writers and performers.
In short, it's something worth seeing by everyone, especially those who think they know song cycles through and through because I can promise you haven't seen this. After all, when else does a story-line begin with musical reference to a certain gory Sondheim musical and finish with, among other things, a pseudo-Valkyrie? Curious? Well, you'll have to head to the
Seymour Centre in Sydney to see it. A week and a half of performances left, so don't miss your chance! And if you can't make it to Sydney, keep your eyes on your local theatres and if it comes your way, don't miss out.
