Review by Amelia
Ticket was gifted in return for an honest review
In a world with triumphs like ‘Friends’ and ‘Love Actually’, it’s clear that a good story about friendship and love can land with most. The newest addition, Love Quirks, is a musical bycomposer/lyricist Seth Bisen-Hersh, with a script by Mark Childers, combining the two to portray the messy goings on of 4 roommates. Initially, running off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theater in 2020 for 2 weeks before the pandemic, the show then reopened for a 12-week run at the AMT Theater summer of 2022.
Proving to be a big hit with New York audiences, the show was the recipient of four 2021 BroadwayWorld Off-Broadway Awards, including Best Production of a Musical, Best New Score of a Musical, Best New Book of a Musical, and Best Direction of a Musical, but how does it translate to a British audience?
Love Quirks offers a believable and relatable portrait of modern relationships, highlighting the highs and lows of romance with warmth and wit. At its best, the show taps into universal experiences that everyone in the audience can relate to somehow, which creates moments of genuine emotional connection. Yet, amid the sincerity, it occasionally slips into familiar tropes and predictable outcomes, diminishing the impact of its original ideas.
The storyline between Ryan (Lewis Bear Brown) and Lili (Ayesha Patel) feels the most conventional, centring on a young woman pining after her first love despite his sexuality. Lili is overtly feminist and outspoken and tends to fall straight into that pigeonhole, while Ryan’s exaggerated portrayal of queerness undercuts the plausibility of the situation, making the dynamic feel less credible. Despite stellar vocals from both actors, the plot feels contrived and doesn’t reach the heights of the emotional depth found in the storyline between Chris and Stephanie.
The relationship between Chris and Steph, portrayed by Tom Newland and Clodagh Greene is one the audience can’t help but root for; their connection deepens as the show progresses, illustrating how starting with friendship can sometimes lay the groundwork for a stronger, more meaningful relationship. They inadvertently help each other through very hard periods in their lives, and this allows them to understand each other’s vulnerabilities. Not to mention, Newland and Greene have great chemistry together on stage, with vocals soaring in songs like ‘Waking’ and ‘Just Get Over It’.
The score itself offers some wonderful solo moments that allow the cast to shine and features lovely harmonies when the ensemble sings together. However, few numbers lingered in my mind after the show. The most impactful moments came from the dialogue and the rapport between the 4 roommates. The script in the first act felt noticeably more refrained than the second, with the word ‘fuck’ getting thrown around like a basketball after the interval. Yet when the characters reached their emotional peaks, the impact was there, and the depth of their bond was unmistakable.
The Other Palace Studio is an intimate venue that perfectly suits a production of this scale. The set design (Bob Sterrett) is charming and whimsical, enhanced by thoughtful lighting choices (Oliver McNally), while the vibrant, eye-catching costumes (Alice McNicholas) complement each character and their journey through the story. Cecile Fray’s direction is sharp and effective, making thoughtful use of limited space. With a handful of scenes feeling less essential to the overall narrative, the production might benefit from running straight through rather than being divided into two 50-minute acts with an interval. This would serve to cut some of the superfluous plot points and create a more cohesive piece.
With a story that’s instantly recognisable and deeply relatable, Love Quirks has every reason to soar. With a little refinement to address its few rough edges, this production could truly shine. As it stands, though, it’s an engaging and heartfelt show that already offers plenty to enjoy. Love Quirks plays at The Other Palace in the studio space until the 12th of October.
Tickets for Love Quirks are available from https://theotherpalace.co.uk/love-quirks-a-new-musical/
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