For All the Love You Lost is presented by Morosophy at theSpace@Surgeon’s Hall. It’s an original piece written and directed by Joshua Thomas that follows Alex and Harriet on a first date in Central London after meeting online.
entertaining and enthusiastically performed
There’s more to it than that, as might be expected. The surreal seascape movement sequence that opens the play might seem to be a detached prologue but its significance becomes apparent later. Alex is nervous at the prospect of his first date in a long time, gaining some confidence through advice from his mate on his appearance and how to approach the evening. Harriet is feeling very much the same, but has her sister to turn to and the interventions of her mother. At the restaurant some attempts by the staff to help the situation create comic moments that add to those in other scenes
The storyline is interspersed with verse monologues from various characters that provide insights into their lives and some homespun philosophy. There are memories to recall and flashbacks to relive in a work that successfully utilises naturalism, surrealism and epic theatre. Including so much creates something of a tickbox of skills and styles learned at drama school, but it is still rewarding to see those on display.
For All the Love You Lost is entertaining and enthusiastically performed. It also contain the sort of twist that always pleases.
