REVIEW: Dirty Great Love Story; a good, quality and enjoyable evening at the theatre

Posted on | By Harrison Fuller

     Hidden away in the West End, nestled between Covent Garden and Leicester Square lies the Arts Theatre
The current show Dirty Great Love Story is a revival and reworking of the show that was first presented at the Edinburgh Festival back in 2012. Running for 90 minutes, the show features two actors and takes you on a story from a drunken stag/hen do encounter and the messy morning after, through the friend zone and to reconciliation. 

 

     With its fast flowing rhyming style, the piece is reminiscent of Steven Berkoff, using the rhythm and meter of the dialogue to add dimension to the scenes and characters. A relatively bare stage also provides easy transition from scene to scene, giving a slick and effortless feel to the performance. 
     While the show is missing the large cast, glitz and glitter that is associated with traditional West End shows, what this production, and the Arts Theatre does, is provide theatregoers with work that would normally be confined to a fringe venue. While the ticket prices are a little high for the length and scope of the production, they are comparative to the high prices commanded by musicals. 
     Without examining its place in the West End, the show is first and foremost a good, quality and enjoyable evening at the theatre. 
The only downside to the evening was the lack of programme, which were not arriving until the following night. I just like to buy one as a keepsake and further information. 
     Catch the show at the Arts Centre before it closes for a fun and funny evening.

 


By Harrison Fuller

Theatre manager, writer, maker.