Although the title might make some presume this to be a connected sequel to a show they should watch first, they needn’t worry. I was five when the first Lost Soul took to the same stage in 2007 and so there was no chance of me having any accurate grounds for comparison, but, from what I have read, that show was electric with scouse humour, a laugh-a-minute kind of affair and I took those expectations with me into Lost Soul 2.
You’re never far away from a laugh in the Royal Court and this show was no different. Straight away it’s adult content and unapologetic farce gives you a flavour of the rest of the evening and that doesn’t let up, I was pleasantly surprised to see.
The comedy was well-balanced and well-timed. Though sometimes predictable, it genuinely had people rolling around in laughter. Aided with the ‘boss’ soundtrack, it kept the entertainment going and the feel good factor the whole way through.
The nuance of character and originality of performances was also of note in Lost Soul 2, particularly Lenny Wood as the Barman, who managed to make his role exist and burst out from his lines as he completely encompassed a personality which was incredibly funny and impressive.
The characters as a whole all created genuine rapport with the audience. So much so that when it came around to the emotional beats in the production, it was felt that much more.
When I went to drama school, ‘drunk acting’ was never looked on very well. However, never has that been more wrongly proven than by Paul Duckworth’s frequent drunken moments as Smigger in this production. Completely free of inhibition, careless and purely for the joy of the crowd and the kind of quality performance that would be different each night.
All of the six actors bounced off each other, they bounced to the soundtrack and the audience joined them. They had a fantastic connection, and the story was well and truly in their hands.
In terms of the story, it was well-rounded, had a clear path and, though it felt stretched near the end of Act Two, it could be overlooked by the brilliant and well-timed last line.
Dialogue was the hero in this production, a brilliant script delivered by a well-oiled machine. Not to mention the set which seamlessly kept the foundation solid in this show. All parts worked together and there was no sense of lost souls on stage.
It did have an emotional flavour, there is a large human issue explored in this production which is relatable and honest but that is not the full reason why people visit the Royal Court. It is instead for the kind of feel-good escapism in this show that this theatre is so good at.
Playing until 14th September, https://liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/main_stage/lost-soul-2/
Reviewer: Hannah Esnouf
Reviewed: 21st August 2024
North West End UK Rating: