Love and Other Strangers

Developed through WAC (The Writers and Actors Collaboration Theatre), this Aberdeen-based organisation was set up to create new works and opportunities for writers and actors in the North-east of Scotland. Written and Directed by WAC Artistic Director Colin Garrow, Love Song in Sixteen Bars was the culmination of a weekend of workshops from WAC theatre and tells of the relationship between a group of four 30-something friends and lovers.

The production opens with best friends Shona (Louise Ballantyne) and Caz (Jessica Hernandez) in one of the sixteen bars introducing the audience to the story. Whenever Shona embarks on a new relationship, she always ends up getting dumped and she is determined to find out where she is going wrong. Enter best friends Pete (Colin Garrow) who is dating Shona and Gary (Martin Bearne).

The audience is then lead through the drink-fuelled, kebab-munching tale of their relationship from Shona’s point of view. Then in the second-half we get the same story from Pete’s point of view with a few revelations to tie things-up. The script on the whole is well constructed, with truly hilarious moments and some convincing dialogue. Louise Ballantyne’s portrayal of the mouthy and self-deluded Shona gets off to a nervous start but she quickly turns it around to become the performer of the night.

Although the conclusion to the story is slightly disappointing and difficult to believe, the play gives us a comic and intelligent look in the bleak and problematic elements of four characters whose relationships are irrevocably intertwined.