Love Quirks Book by Mark Childres, Music & Lyrics by Seth Bisen-Hersh. The Other Palace Studio, 12 Palace Street, London until 12 October 2025, 3☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Anna Clare Photography.

Love Quirks Book by Mark Childres, Music & Lyrics by Seth Bisen-Hersh. The Other Palace Studio, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E until 12 October 2025,

3☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.   

“Hard to love quirks.”

There are horses for courses and maybe this off-Broadway musical will appeal to Generation Z but - with the action transposed from New York to London - it left me cold and the audience members I shared the lift with leaving the theatre. Which is not to say that the score is not tuneful, the lyrics not witty because both are just that or that cast do not work hard demonstrating their versatility because they do. Rather, it has, like many off Broadway shows, not survived that Atlantic crossing. Four youngish persons sharing the same flat have love life problems with most of which it is hard to sympathise. Another problem is that they all sing in the currently fashionable great big crescendo moments mid ballad style which means that the words, and Seth Bisen-Hersh's words matter because they convey what Mark Childers' story has to say about love, sex and getting over disappointments, are often impossible to make out in spite of the fact that all four are miked. In addition, the sound system is at its highest which does not help. The Studio is an intimate venue and while mikes seem de rigeur these days they should only be a help not used to their utmost. The cast, and probably everyone else connected with it. are too young to have ever seen a revue, but in them words mattered, and actors of the time knew how to put them across often without the benefit of mikes. The book gets a little more dramatic in act two, but the first act really is a series of “turns” by each character setting out who they are rather than a consistent plot and it reminded me of revue. A little less brio from the pianist providing the backing would also help keep the noise level down. This is not how it was seen off Broadway but off Victoria Street is somewhere completely different.

Lili and Steph share a flat with Ryan, who is gay and for whom – it is hard to see why, Lili has a passion. He has found a new lover and is moving out so he hands his room to Chris, an American chef visiting London who is getting over a broken engagement. But Chris and Steph were once an item. There are clearly going to be problems and duly they arise. Childers' book could be stronger and Act one needs a stronger story line, but it is that inflated sound system that really sabotages the work director Cecilie Fray has done keeping it all moving briskly along and makes it seem a long two hours regardless of what generation one belongs to.

Cast

Tom Newland – Chris.

Clodagh Greene – Stephanie.

Lewis Bear Brown – Ryan.

Ayesha Patel – Lili.

Creatives

Director – Cecilie Fray.

Lighting Designer – Oliver McNally.

Costume Designer -Alice McNicholas.

Musical Directo – Tom Noyes.

Set Designer – Bob Sterret.