Lovesong

Prepare to get misty eyed, because Red Stitch Theatre’s Lovesong is a tearjerker. Written by multi-award-winning playwright Abi Morgan, the poignant, honest and incredibly moving production of love and lifelong commitment pierces the heart. Milk Bar Mag attended opening night and were left a resounding mess of emotion.

Billy (Paul English) and Maggie (Jillian Murray) are an elderly couple who have successfully navigated the complicated waters of marriage. In their backyard sits a blossoming peach tree bearing ripe fruit. Its presence is a bittersweet reminder that despite their outward happiness, a wound lies in their inability to have children. While an ailing Margaret prepares for the end of her life, the pair reflect on their love affair, and the audience see younger versions of William (Dylan Watson) and Margaret (Maddy Jevic). 

In many ways William and Margaret’s love is quite green: he accuses her of flirting with his boss; he purchases a dentistry without her knowledge; he flirts with the neighbour’s au pair; all while she has a dalliance with a man at a conference without crossing the line. The seasoned Billy and Maggie watch their younger selves with regret and sorrow. 

As their time together draws to a close, Maggie worries about Billy’s future and urges him to travel while he faces life with his life partner. Swaying on a hammock, draped in the illuminated light of Chinese lanterns and beneath the peach tree, Billy and Maggie listen to a sweet lullaby feeling content in saying all that needs to be said.

Directed by Denny Lawrence, Lovesong is an 80-minute show offering an honest depiction of the complexities of love. A haunting cello score plays throughout the show imbuing a sense of longing. All four cast members were outstanding, in particular Murray and English, who shined in scenes where they grappled with the undeniable finality of death.