A comedy that mingles romance with politics and it’s not about porn stars and reality show moguls? Please let it be a breath of fresh air, I plea to the theatre gods, as I take my seat for Labour of Love at Olney Theatre Center.
I am pleased to report this new play by British playwright James Graham crackles with wit, sophistication, and presents the audience with two compelling characters who were meant for each other, even though it takes them many years to sort it all out.
Perhaps offering a nod to Shakespeare’s witty Much Ado About Nothing, Labour of Love also traffics in the British version of the political divide, namely the conservatives and their opposites, the Labour Party (think Democrats). Graham is having his moment in recent years, with a string of plays to his credit – This House, Tory Boyz, and Ink, to name a few. This one only premiered in London a year ago and Olney has snatched it up for the American premiere, luckily for their audiences.
Jumping back and forth through a span of 27 years, we meet David Lyons (M. Scott McLean), member of Parliament (MP), who is passionate about serving in the House of Commons. As the story begins, he is concerned about the outcome of the local election in North Nottinghamshire, one that could tip the election to the other side. His professional companion in watching the election returns is his long-time office manager in the district, Jean Whittaker (Julia Coffey). Scene one of the first act establishes not only their brittle relationship, but David’s personal issues, such as his estranged wife’s surprise return with an even more surprising revelation.
The rest of act one edges backwards through time, to 2011, 2001, 1994, and finally to November, 1990, when David was a much younger, idealistic candidate and Jean became one of his most trusted campaign staff members. Graham’s beautifully constructed plot resolves itself in the second act as it telescopes back to finish each scene we saw begin, almost in cliffhanger fashion.
Throughout the reverse and forward structure, the dazzling and sometimes crude word play spins to reveal a several complicated relationships, chief among them David and Jean, David and his wife Elizabeth (Tessa Klein), and Jean’s relationship with a local council member and some time rival of David, Len (Marcus Kyd). The play is masterfully assembled to reveal the layers of humanity and the connections steadily.
We talk with director Leora Morris about Labour of Love
Playwright Graham keeps the political sphere juggling in the air but he’s really written a romantic comedy, and it does not take a pundit to see that David and Jean sniff around each other for more than two decades before they finally connect. The fun of this kind of play is to see just how the characters will come together finally. Along the way, they spar with wit and grit over everything from each other’s faults and their own view of politics.
The cast of Olney’s production is clearly up to the task of keeping the bon mots flying, especially the central pair David and Jean. As the MP, McLean has the lean and hungry look of a career politician and has an ease onstage that gives the impression the role was written with him in mind. As his sparring partner and devoted constituent, Coffey is a stitch as the strong-willed and potty-mouthed Jean. The two actors work off each other memorably.
Klein as David’s put-upon wife also makes a favorable impression and easily conveys the change in her levels of devotion and frustration over the two-decade time span. Marcus Kyd makes for an expert comic foil as Len, and Emily Kester perfectly embodies an enthusiastic constituent. Finally, Brian Kim plays the pivotal role of an investor, making the most of his limited stage time.
In a world where 90 minute are the norm, it was refreshing to see a play of ideas and human relations unfold over a two hour-plus evening. Director Leora Morris takes advantage of not only Graham’s witty script and her sterling cast, but the realistic scenic design by Daniel Ettinger to transport the characters and the audience through the time bending story. Ettinger’s detailed designs were punctuated by the eclectic and dynamic projection work by Rasean Davonte Johnson.
One final note: do not be put off by the political coating on Labour of Love. The play imbeds the Labour versus Tory conflict but does not bludgeon the audience with a strong point of view, one way or the other. “Compromise is not a dirty word,” MP David Lyons says at one point, regarding his centrist point of view. And in a world where extremists from the left and the right struggle to control the narrative, it was nice to spend time with intelligent discourse and some genuinely humorous dialogue. Labour of Love has my vote.
Labour of Love by James Graham . Directed by Leora Morris . Featuring: Julia Coffey, Emily Kester, Brian Kim, Tessa Klein, Marcus Kyd, and M. Scott McLean . Set Designer: Daniel Ettinger . Costume Designer: Sarah Cubbage . Lighting Designer: Jesse Belsky . Composer/Sound Designer: Sarah O’Halloran . Projection Designer: Rasean Davonte Johnson . Produced by Olney Theatre Center . Reviewed by Jeff Walker.
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