Whenever you see a play, there are actually three plays: the one on the page, the one on the stage, and the one in your head based on your own experience with the subject matter. What makes Swipe Left For Love so compelling – and has scored it some rave reviews – is that the writing is relatable enough and the performances varied enough that you’ll find a way to personally relate to your own particular angle on the story regardless of your experience and background. It’s a play about a PR manager whose life goes up and down between euphoric creative peaks and depressive, self-destructive troughs, and how the search for love can mask deeper issues of self-fulfilment. On paper that might sound kinda heavy going, but on the stage it’s at once hilarious, revealing, absurd, touching, revealing and sometimes just plain goofy.
Written and directed by Amanda Jane Pritchard as a comic retelling of her personal struggles, the play is brought to life by a spirited ensemble fronted by the multitalented Holly McCrossin as Chloe James. Andy Burns has some hilarious melodramatic moments as lovelorn dentist Dr Baker, and Marianne Mcloughlin covers a lot of emotional ground as Angela “Bulldog” Baitman, a character who initially comes off as one-dimensionally antagonistic but whom we soon see has her own woes. But the standout is Bridget Mylecharane as Narrator Squires: her comic delivery both verbal and physical, her range of expression and an incredible singing voice have an endearing watchability. She has star written all over her.
We could stand to learn a little more about certain characters, and hopefully, these shows will lead to the opportunity for a bigger production for the musical numbers, but the chatter is right: this is a well-produced, well-written, well-performed and unique show that has lots of heart.
By Peter Hodgson
