A disarmingly charming work of gig theatre that packs an unexpected emotional punch, No Love Songs, is just the right fit to help break in Sydney’s newest performance space, the Foundry Theatre.
A sort of stripped-back modern romance story filled with catchy, indie-rock-inflected songs, the premiere Australian tour brings together musical theatre darling Lucy Maunder (Chicago, Mary Poppins) and Keegan Joyce (who you might recognise from his roles in the series Rake and Please Like Me) as Lana and Jessie, a plucky young couple navigating love’s highs and lows.
I must confess, I approached this show with trepidation, not entirely convinced that I’d be able to get on board. However, once you persevere through a handful of corny jokes, the performance really finds its feet. Leading with honesty and a sense of ratbag authenticity, this 80-minute two-hander taps into surprisingly profound depths. (And those depths get quite dark, too. So if you’re feeling in any way emotionally fragile, proceed with caution.)
A breakout hit of the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the songs of No Love Songs are penned by Kyle Falconer, frontman of Scottish band The View – and if that name doesn’t immediately ring bells, the breakout single ‘Same Jeans’ from their debut album, Hats Off to the Buskers, will certainly stir up some nostalgia for any self-respecting Millennials who loyally followed the indie rock frequencies in the 2000s. (I can practically feel the skinny jeans compressing my organs.)
The plot takes inspiration from the early days of Falconer’s real-life relationship with his partner, Laura Wilde (who co-wrote the book with Johnny McKnight). Following the initial spark of giddy, horny young love, our couple’s uni-era romance is thrown off-course by an unexpected pregnancy – and as Jessie’s burgeoning music career pulls him away on a two-month tour in the States, an isolated Lana slowly sinks into the murky lows of post-natal depression.
The Australian production places the story in Newcastle, and the “Steel City” of NSW is a fitting meet-cute location for this couple. (As someone who grew up in the area, I imagine that Jessie and Lana first locked eyes across the beer-soaked carpets of the band room at The Cambo.) Jessie’s acoustic vibe is a logical fit for the generation that came a step or two behind the Frogstomping heyday of Daniel Johns. (But I refuse to think too hard about whether Newy would have a half-decent fashion degree for Lana to drop out of.) The little Australianisms aren’t laid on too thick, either – just enough to lend an air of authenticity.
Our leads share a pleasing chemistry. It’s a cool opportunity to see Lucy Maunder owning a more stripped-back role – she saunters (and slouches, and scrambles) about in a green boiler suit, nailing the comedic timing as she throws out quips about getting the “fanny flutters” over the hot guy fronting the band in the dingy bar, before transforming into a portrait of a woman broken, and of a woman rebuilt. Likewise, Keegan Joyce also tackles the material well, and we witness his character mature from a sweet yet aloof young guy into someone ready to truly show up as a partner and a parent – articulating the particular turmoil that comes with supporting a partner through mental health challenges along the way.
Even the calcified shell of my bitter heart was cracked by this show, and a few tears escaped from my eyes as I found myself rooting for this imperfect couple, and willing them a rom-com style repair. (And, not to spoil anything, but if you persevere through their darkest hours with them, you might be rewarded with a light at the end of the tunnel.)
If you are after the spectacle of an elaborate musical theatre production, this probably isn't the show for you. But if you're down to discover a rough-cut gem of gig theatre that wears its heart on its sleeve, do yourself a favour by checking this out.
No Love Songs is playing at the Foundry Theatre until April 5. Tickets are on sale over here.
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