‘Lust in Translation’ is certainly not the most groundbreaking of devised pieces we’ll see at the Fringe, but this doesn’t mean it should be written off just yet. It follows the no strings attached romance between uni students Tom Selleck and Sarah. Tom is a sweet, somewhat geeky looking guy. After deciding it’s virtually impossible to meet girls after university, he sets himself the challenge of finding a girlfriend in his final year. Here enters the cool and aloof Sarah. The last thing Sarah wants though is a relationship. Her heart has been broken and she has weird hang ups about ‘control’. Their ‘fling’ situation seems to be swimming along nicely until seeing each other becomes unavoidable. I know what you’re thinking; it sounds cheesy and pretty run-of-the-mill. Surprisingly, it isn’t either of these things. And if weren’t thinking that, you definitely will appreciate this little gem.
Firstly, Lust in Translation avoids the cheese factor because the actors of the Queen Mary Theatre Company are good. They know how to deliver lines in a wholly believable way. The cast gel well together and there appears to be real chemistry between Tom and Sarah. Secondly, each member of the cast adds excellent comical perspective to an otherwise boring plot. Finally, this play sets itself apart because, although the story lacks creativity, the extra touches make it more original, such as the quirky voice over narration and the genuinely funny supporting characters.
Nevertheless, this play is clearly created by students for students. The audience may even feel slight frustration at the meagre investment into props, such as glasses, which could have improved the overall viewing experience. As much talent as the actors have, the story between characters Tom and Sarah starts to grate a little because nothing much really happens and it starts going back and forth with no end in sight. Additionally, the whole Tom Selleck gag seemed a bit pointless: all it resulted in were bad gags about films the 80s star has been in, which actually brought nothing to the play. The saving grace of Lust in Translation was that it ends after 45 minutes and doesn’t have an entirely predictable ending. These are two reasons I was able to leave with a more positive spin on what I had seen.
