ED2016 2/5 Reviews ED2016 Theatre Reviews

At War With Love (Chiaroscuro Theatre)

By Patricia-Ann Young | Published on Wednesday 17 August 2016

Overwrought and overcooked, ‘At War With Love’ lays it on thick while trying to bring Shakespeare’s sonnets to the stage. Set during WW1, four couples speak and write to each in other in the form of the bard’s sonnets. This potentially nice idea is dealt with too heavy-handedly to be truly successful, with subtle-as-a-brick ‘atmospheric’ music playing almost throughout the full play, which is far more annoying than it is romantic. Director Gail Sawyer also tries to incorporate some physical theatre into the proceedings, but the actors struggle and it comes off stilted and awkward. Tales of romantic love become tales of woe in this well meaning, but disappointing, homage to Shakespeare.

Greenside @ Nicolson Square, until 20 Aug.
tw rating 2/5 | [Patricia-Ann Young]