Sorry, Love!

Source: The List (Issue 582)
Date: 9 August 2007
Written by: Kirstin Innes

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Part ballet, part ITV drama

Isobel works in PR, Ramon’s a hotel bellboy. They fall in love and get a mortgage. Her boss calls too often; she’s sad when he comes home late. It’s interesting to see a piece of dance theatre using ballet and the sexy flourishes of tango to express everyday mundanities, but unfortunately this production doesn’t trust its dancers to carry a narrative.

Sickly sweet voiceovers ‘explaining’ the characters’ interior lives intrude on the story, symbolism is laid on with a trowel, and the whole thing veers into schlocky melodrama when he hits her; an insulting subplot shoehorned in for dramatic tension that has nothing intelligent to say on domestic violence.

It’s a shame, because the early choreography reveals a promising sensual connection between the dancers, and while her partner never evolves beyond a sleazy salsa-dancing monster in a waistcoat, Laura Macais’ performance as Isobel is delicate, nuanced and an immense display of stamina. (Kirstin Innes)

C, Chambers Street, 0845 260 1234, until 27 Aug (not 13), 7.35pm, £8.50–£10.50 (£7.50–£9.50).

More: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Laura Macais, Love, Sorry, Tango, Ballet (Dance), Fringe (Edinburgh Festivals)

Last updated: 25 Jul 2008 17:14 BST