On Thursday 6 February, the Lower Sixth A-level drama pupils watched Love is Only Love at the Chichester Theatre Festival. The play followed the various romances of Sam Harrison throughout his childhood and teenage years. The piece involved just two actors and a pianist, interspersing songs from Hollywood musicals with funny anecdotes and romance to create highly engaging and captivating theatre. Filled with teenage angst and confusion, as well as the excitement of first love, Love is Only Love challenges the stereotypical depiction of gay people as over-dramatised, unfulfilled and doomed to failure, instead illustrating the raw and far more sensitive narrative of the many loves of Sam's life.
Most impressive was David Seadon-Young, who played Sam's various significant others, manipulating his vocals and physicality to portray different characters. He became gruff, then shy, then caring, and also played Sam's liberal-minded mother, which made for many laughs. Finally, the show shines a light on the universal nature of love, with the simple set allowing the audience to focus on the simplicity of this message, which was so effectively conveyed in such a whimsical and entertaining manner.
- Jasmine
