[Theatre, SA]
St Jude’s Hall, Thu 3 Apr, 2025
Canny indeed of St Jude’s Players to schedule a show about elections right in the frame of our upcoming tri-annual ritual. While perhaps not as dramatic – the Australian Labor Party hasn’t quite experienced the trauma of their soulmates in the UK – the ALP certainly has shared the experience of a sharply declining voter base, and a significant change in the profile of typical Labor voters.
These changes are at the heart of Labour of Love – the drift away from traditional labour values to something more middle of the road; to where Labour voters may be better educated than in the past, speak with a posh accent, wear fancy clothes and may not have the DNA of coal dust in their lungs. This stand-off between the working class and the Johnny-come-lately’s provides a rich vein of linguistic humour that James Graham’s splendid play exploits so well.
The entire play takes place in the electoral office In Labour’s heartland somewhere in the north of England. David Lyons appears as a southern twat who has returned home as the triumphant MP who has kept the seat in safe Labour hands. But when Jean, office manager for the outgoing MP, first spies David she figures he’s a Tory. And there begins a rocky relationship that stays the distance till plays end.
Stephen Bills and Lana Adamuszek are to be commended for their remarkable epic perfomances. Other bit players In and around the office who also deliver very strong performances are Len (played by Larry Waller), the died in the wool Labour voter who still nurtures the traditional link to the coalmines, and David’s wife Linda (played by Anita Zamberlan Canala), who, despite her husband’s success, is not at all happy about being stranded in England’s north. Jakob Ding fits the bill perfectly as the Chinese businessman pretending to be interested in investing in the depressed region, but who is actually far more interested in catching up with his colleagues at a local football game.
Set designer Don Oakley has done a great job creating a set that is appropriately dowdy and daggy. It looks like it hasn’t had a coat of paint since the office opened way back when. A symbolic red flag serves as a sad reminder of glories past.
Jean and David’s flourishing relationship mirrors the changing nature of the Labour party as he manages to hold his seat over 4 elections and 20 plus years, and eventually Jean begins to see some merit in this man from the south. However, when David is at his finest launching a long rant about how the Labour party needs to broaden its appeal to guarantee its relevance beyond the industrial north Jean rudely (and humorously) just watches TV and scans magazines to avoid taking in what David is saying.
A well-crafted set of slides and accompanying audio keeps the audience informed of background events during scene changes and in synch with the timeline as the years roll by.
A great deal of local love and attention to detail has gone in to bringing this Labour of Love to the stage. It’s a really fine play with plenty of earthy northern English humour. But note – it is a long one.
Directed by Kym Clayton
3.5 Stars
Michael Coghlan
Labour of Love continues at St Jude’s Hall, Brighton at various times until Sat 12 Apr 2025. Purchase tickets HERE.
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The Clothesline Rating
Michael Coghlan
A great deal of local love and attention to detail has gone in to bringing this Labour of Love to the stage. It’s a really fine play with plenty of earthy northern English humour.
