Lovesong, Sherman Theatre (From South Wales Argus)

Lovesong, Sherman Theatre

2:58pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Entertainments By Jackie Davies

Facelift completed, Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre re-opened its doors triumphantly with the hauntingly beautiful, Lovesong, penned by Abi Morgan.

Theatre company Frantic Assembly has joined forces with the acclaimed Cardiff writer (Iron Lady, The Hour, Sex Traffic) and Welsh actress Sian Phillips, to produce a poignant tale about a couple’s love and life together.

The Sherman’s intimate setting lends itself perfectly to the theme as we witness two couples, one young and full of hope, one older and nearing the end of their time together, sharing the same house.

The couples inter-twine and inter-act with seamless choreography and as their past and present selves lovingly collide into one it becomes clear that they are the same couple at different stages of their life.

Each of the four characters bring a different energy to the piece, but, undeniably the stunning, central performance belongs to Sian Phillips as the older Maggie, more than ably supported by Sam Cox, as her husband Billy.

Edward Bennett and Leannne Rowe as the younger William and Margaret successfully begin the love story with two mesmerising performances, and they allow age and generation to slip away as their story gently unfolds.

Pertinent, moving and extremely well-staged, the play invites reaction.

You have until Saturday to catch up with it.