REVIEW: LOVE TO LOVE by Flo Petrie at Golden Goose Theatre 23 and 24 May 2025
‘smart two-hander’ ★★★
A smart premise for this show that is sure to attract a wide audience. Anyone who has ever dated can enjoy the spectacle of two 20 somethings battling it out in an intense dating show. 36 questions to fall in love – or not.
There is lot to admire about this show, such as the excellent videography by Josh McClure, including the trailer which niftily shows Pro (the female protagonist played by Flo Petrie) run backwards through time, again and again only to meet herself in the centre. It sums up the show as the game resets over and over, and each time it plays, more is revealed about Pro.
She’s not entirely the happy go lucky person we meet in the first instance, there’s a lot of pain to be eased out into the open, with the help of Ant (Charlie Collinson). If their relationship starts out rather spikey and unpromising, it quickly becomes opposites attract and heart-warmingly romantic. It’s refreshing to see a woman who wants sex more than the man, she’s gagging for it but he’s more cautious. These aren’t the only nods to female agency. This is a show about ‘her’, and her journey to self-discovery and self-love.
Along the way there are plenty of humourous moments and it’s always charming to see love burgeoning and to recognise in ourselves the usual highs and lows of a developing relationship.
If the show starts out as lightweight, it gains gravitas with the first reveal. Suddenly, it’s a show that’s about more than just a dating game. This is very welcome, but the second reveal feels a little forced. The projected image of the child works well but the exact trauma is a little hazy, which might be a deliberate choice. Whilst the imagery is beautifully done, this second reveal isn’t as convincing as the first. On the other hand, the two flashbacks to a former relationship fit the premise of the show very well and the power play between them is believable.
This is just being picky about a show which is potentially very entertaining and absorbing, but for the small issue of timing which slows down the action. Some of the pauses are so long that the play seems to stop dead and then restart. The pauses spoil the flow and give time for minds to wander; it’s best to keep the audience leaning forward. The script has plenty of potential for quick fire exchanges which would show off its sharp wit. In all, it is a very polished show, but even so, it just needs to be tighter to reach its full potential.
LOVE TO LOVE by Flo Petrie at Golden Goose Theatre 23 and 24 May 2025
Presented by Oneness Productions
Cast
Charlie Collinson
Flo Petrie
Videographer
Josh McClure
Director
Oli Bates
