Saturday 16 May 2020

ONLINE THEATRE REVIEW: Love In The Time Of Corona from Roar With Us - online.


I had the opportunity yesterday to watch a short piece of new creative writing from my second home, the North West of England. I am currently sequestered with my husband in lockdown in central Scotland! However, I was delighted to see a link to this short comedy drama - filmed entirely in isolation - appear on my Facebook newsfeed, and so naturally I had to watch it.

I have not heard of The Triple Writer Challenge before, but since three writers are credited for this piece, then I asume that all have had equal input into the content. They are credited as Mark Davoren, Benjamin Peel, and Sandy R. Jack.

The story works perfectly being filmed and streamed in isolation, as indeed, that is exactly what the narrative is about. A - lets call them boyfriend and girlfriend for the now - are both waiting in their separate houses to have a video chat call with a counsellor, as they were thinking about moving in together, and taking their relatiuonship to the next level, so to speak, prior to the lockdown. However since the lockdown and their isolation from each other, they have both been having second thoughts and their relationship comes over as somewhat frosty with negativity and lots of bickering between them.

The counsellor, however, when he appears, also seems a little unorthodox, and the more he says, the weirder and more off-beat he becomes. Despite his madness though he does seem to leave a lasting impression on the couple and have words of wisdom to impart which makes them both re-evaluate their relationship and needs.

I am not going to divulge any more, since to say more would simply be to give it all away. Suffice to whet your appetite!

It's a fairly humorous, but somewhat predictable script, with enough there to sustain one's interest for the 13 minute running time. It's rather like an extended sketch, but the three actors provide much in this time for us to be able to understand them and their situations: to emote and / or sympathise with them, and to have a wee laugh at them too. Michelle Connelly, John Rennie and Bobby Dosanjh make up the three cast, and despite the surrealness of both being privy to an online therapy session and a possibly certifiable counsellor to boot it makes for a very pleasant diversion from our new norm.

I'm delighted to have found it - and the company, Roar With Us, whom I also knew nothing about until just now. 

Reviewer - Amy McIver
on - 15/5/20

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