C21 Theatre Company is back on stage in the Lyric Theatre’s Naughton Studio, with their production of ‘Love or Money’, a new comedy about banks, bras and going bust. The play, written by Rosemary Jenkinson and directed by Stephen Kelly, pivots on the tension between career choices and love life, and takes a light-hearted look about what it means to balance both in everyday life.
Our protagonist Eilish is a somewhat skittish recently-divorced solicitor, who is tentatively making her way back into both the dating game and the courts, as she simultaneously juggles her new relationship with rebuilding her law career. In the opening scene, we see her welcome businessman Conor back to her apartment after their first date together, and the earthy humour certainly sets the tone for the rest of the play. As their relationship continues to develop, Eilish’s high pressure job and Conor’s failing business provide a series of obstacles for the two to overcome, and they soon find themselves embroiled in a world of hidden identity, missing documents, and lots of lingerie.
The partnership between Rosemary Jenkinson and c21 Theatre Company has been an effectual one, bringing us last year’s sell-out NHS-themed hit Stitched Up. Love or Money follows the same lines in that it offers a refreshing and satirical take on the underside of the recession and adds an imaginative human element. Ethical issues are at the forefront of the action, and the idea of institutions going after individuals certainly won’t be lost on an audience who have lived through the recent financial crisis.
While failing businesses and corporate lawyers may not sound like the most appealing of topics, it’s delivered with such levity that it’s hard not to empathise and enjoy. The strength of Love or Money most definitely lies in its relatability. From the protagonists foray into online dating, their struggle to climb up the career ladder, and the pressure of expectation from demanding bosses, you’ll almost certainly recognise something of yourself in the characters and the dilemmas they’re faced with as the story unfolds.
The production truly benefits from such an experienced cast, who deliver natural and engaging performance across the board. Michael Liebmann does exceptionally well to juggle the roles of Alec, Eilish’s demanding and importunate boss, and Travis, a rogue wheeler-dealer who fears the threat of redundancy. Michael Condron’s Conor is impossible not to like, and his seemingly happy-go-lucky portrayal is the perfect match for Roisin Gallagher’s Eilish. Condron and Gallagher play off one another beautifully and the two create a genuine and enjoyable narrative. The entire cast deliver a very witty script with ease and perfect comic timing that had the audience laughing from the very first minute.
Love or Money is genial, heart-warming, and thoroughly entertaining production.
You can catch performances in Belfast’s Lyric Theatre until Saturday 27th February before it goes on tour through Ballymena (29th February), Newtownabbey (3rd March), Cushendall (4th), Limavady (5th), Newry (8th), Armagh (10th), Downpatrick (11th) and Lisburn (12th). For more information and to book tickets click here.
