Love Valour Compassion - Lauriston Studio

DON’T be fooled by the first half of this multi-award winning play, which largely seems preoccupied with the trivial, as we spend three landmark American holidays in a lakeside holiday home with a group of gay friends.

This idyllic place is owned by Gregory, a New York choreographer hopelessly devoted to his partner Bobby, vulnerable but not held back as a result of his blindness.

While Terrence Mc Nally’s expertly crafted play, set in the States in the mid 90s, takes a more serious turn after the interval, there are some moments of comedy gold to enjoy with one of the pals, Buzz, treating us to some classic one liners and a personal philosophy that is to put it mildly, unique.

Then there’s the spectre of AIDS, the wicked and cruel disease that dulls the characters pursuit of unbridled hedonism.

Buzz may be the most entertaining of Mc Nally’s characters - all of human life is here - but by far the most fascinating is Ramon who epitomises that well worn old saying about still waters running deep. I found the way he toys with Bobby quietly cruel and deeply unsettling.

A tight knit cast create a convincing cameraderie thanks to the expert and astute direction of Barry Purves, a leading creative who never puts a foot wrong when it comes to making top class theatre.

Mike Jenkinson-Deakin, Paul Cudby, Patrick O’Brien, Glenn Jenkinson-Deakin, Rhys Nuttall, Mackauley Reece and Jay Hollows invest so much into their roles emotionally you couldn’t begrudge them a post performance drink or two. For me, it’s Hollows who gives the performance of the night as Ramon as I found this character intriguing.

The Garrick is staging this piece as part of its LGBTQ+ season and it was pleasing to see a different kind of audience at the Garrick’s wonderful Lauriston Studio.

But I do hope this play is seen by as many theatregoers as possible. A fabulous script, fabulous performances. A must see.

Love Valour Compassion is suitable for over 16s only and contains brief nudity and racially offensive language.

Until February 5. The box office is on 0161 928 1677 or altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - ****

Photo - Martin Ogden.