Taken from Glasgow venue Oran Mors successful a play, a pie and a pint lunchtime shows, Ae Fond Kiss follows hapless Zeds 18th birthday trip to Lola, a down on her luck prostitute.
This is an extremely professional production with high production values evident throughout. Ann Marie di Mambros writing is sharp and funny. The Ballroom at the Assembly Rooms works well as space, with very effective design by Jessica Brettle, bringing you right inside Lolas flat. Lola is played by Libby McArthur, better known in Scotland as Gina in the BBCs soap River City, with Jim Webster Stewart taking on the part of Zed. It has been tightly directed by Ken Alexander.
Lola seems almost as surprised to see Zed as he is see a slightly tatty flat and a 40-something woman rather than the sexy young redhead hed been promised. Zeds visit has been paid for by his mates at the supermarket, one of whom cant resist phoning repeatedly for a blow-by-blow account.
Webster Stewart brings just the right degree of naivety and nervousness to Zed. There is some great physical comedy Lolas grappling with Zed on the sofa played perfectly. Lola helps Zed learn some important life lessons but not the sort that his mates originally intended and Zed ends up teaching Lola too. This a comic, yet heartfelt play, serious, but also seriously funny. An excellent choice for some lunchtime entertainment, its just a shame that Assembly cant match Oran Mors pint and pie to go along with it.
