IN ITS latest production, Progress Theatre explores enduring love between two people across the span of a relationship which lasts almost their entire lives.
Abi Morgan’s Lovesong follows the romantic endeavours of a couple, Billy and Maggie, who, in the Autumn years of their lives, are beginning to grow frail, while reminiscing about their younger, more turbulent years.
The episodes of their earlier lives are woven through the narrative as they come to terms with their age and grapple with the prospect of being without each other.
Progress stalwart Liz Carroll returns to the stage, as Maggie, alongside Peter O’Sullivan, as her husband Bill.
Both Carroll and O’Sullivan realise the dynamic between the pair with great care and consideration, each portraying the characters’ tender exchanges and occasional moments of tension very well.
Their lightness of touch in the portrayal is judicious, and speaks of a confidence which allows the content of the play to take centre stage, while imbuing its emotional beats with the impact they need.
This is particularly true of the closing act of the play, where the inevitability of of their eventual departure from one another is tackled head-on, excellently acted by both; O’Sullivan’s commitment and physical ability are most apparent as the play reaches its devastating final notes.
They are complemented by Faith Mansfield, who portrays a younger Maggie, and Matt Urwin, as a younger Billy.
Both Mansfield and Urwin bring the eagerness and vigour of the couple’s youth to the fore, bringing the honeymoon phase of their lives to the stage with assured energy.
This is particularly so during the more turbulent scenes, where the couple grapples with the tribulations of having children and emotional infidelity.
Those scenes burst with tension thanks to the understated performances by both Mansfield and Urwin.
Overall all four of the play’s performers bring vitality and sentiment to the roles, allowing the stark content of the play to be brought to life.
The sparse staging, too, allows the character dynamics space to be front and centre of the production, with all of the production touches it needs without distracting from the performances.
Overall, Progress’ confident and assured production of Lovesong shows not only that the company understands that emotional dynamics are the focus of the play, but also has the confidence and the conviction to portray them with aplomb.
Lovesong is showing at Progress Theatre, The Mount, until Saturday, March 29.
Full details and tickets are available via: ticketsource.co.uk/progresstheatre/lovesong
