A Wonderful Love Song at 59 E 59 Theaters

Love Song surprises you with its gentleness and sense of wonder. Now receiving its New York premiere at 59E59 Theaters, Love Song is a captivating look at the transformative power of love through the eyes of Bean, the lost young man at the play’s center.

Bean is wonderfully underplayed by Andrew Pastides. Bean is a young man who lives by going through the motions, without a purpose but not morose. Bean doesn’t understand life exactely, but is aware enough to know that some connection is missing. His sister, Joan, and brother-in-law, Harry attempt to draw him out of his shell, or at least understand his shell.

Ian Barford as Harry provides excellent grounding, not just for Bean, but for Joan – his wife who takes all things a bit too seriously. Laura Latreille plays Joan, a woman who’s manic personality grows on you; confounding the expectation that she would grow more annoying as the play progresses. It is partly excellent writing and partly pitch perfect acting that keeps the audience engaged.

Bean’s monastic life is upended when he interrupts a burglar in his home, Molly. Molly is an amoral young woman, more than a little annoyed by the scarcity of Bean’s possessions. Zoe Winters plays Molly as full of bravado, yet thrown off by Bean’s lifestyle and response to her presence. That Bean should fall in love with Molly seems normal in context – Molly’s appearance is the first thing that has struck life into Bean.

It is an improbable relationship, but Bean is enriched by it. Bean comes to life for the first time, as opposed to merely existing. Joan and Harry greet this new relationship with trepidation.

Love Song was written and directed by John Kolvenbach, and he paces the show perfectly. Love Song unfolds like an intricate origami box of emotions. Bean and Molly’s affair ignites the emotions in others.

In retrospect, Long Song was probably a little predictable, but it never felt that way while watching it. It breezes by, not hurrying or lingering too long.

Wonderful
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Love Song (tickets and web site)
Written and Directed by John Kolvenbach
Cast: Ian Barford, Jonathan Fielding, Laura Latreille, Andrew Pastides, Zoe Winters