Love Song to Lavender Menace, 4 Stars

Love Song to Lavender Menace
Summerhall – TechCube
12:55

“After a sell-out run at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Scotland’s 80s gay romantic comedy hit is back! So are nostalgic bookseller Lewis and party-boy Glen, in this funny, celebratory play about Scotland’s radical, lesbian, gay and feminist bookshop that began in the cloakroom of Scotland’s first gay nightclub and became the beating heart of Edinburgh’s LGBT+ community. ‘A stunningly beautiful play’ ***** (TheReviewsHub.com). ‘A play for our time that speaks volumes about cities and change’ **** (Scotsman). ‘A thoroughly entertaining and important piece of LGBT social history’ **** (Stage). www.madeinscotlandshowcase.com”

Review by Richard Lambert, 4 Stars

With fast turnarounds for any venue to get the shows in and out it’s always impressive when a production makes an effort to solve the time, storage and impact for their Set Design. Love Song to Levender Menace has nailed this! Designer Mamoru Iriguchi should take a bow! Popup flatpack bookshelves with books that appear and disappear due to clever integrated lighting accentuate the storyline with a desk that’s sturdy enough to dance on!

The script is well crafted with humour and drama all in the right places (James Ley, Writer and David Greig, Dramaturg). The story is based on the true-life struggles of the Lavender Menace bookshop – it’s been a fairly itinerant business and the commercial march of cmmercial chain stores edging it out. The choreography fits perfectly in with the characterisations – not too polished, just enough to show the emotion and attitude.

Super slick patter from Matthew McVarish as Glen and Pierce Reid as Lewis.

Once again Summerhall is showing exceptional programming choices and polished productions!

The audience roared and loved this slick production!

Ros Philips, Director and Dramaturge
Kevin Murray, Sound Designer
Laura Hawkins, Lighting Designer
Annabel Cooper, Producer
in association with Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh