The writer, poet and producer Anastasia Osei-Kuffour makes her playwriting debut in Love Steps: The story of Anna a young, gifted and Black girl navigating a world in turmoil searching for the one thing missing in her life, love. The set is simplistic with only shadow effects of their silhouettes, flashed up words to reflect the mood, offering no hiding place for this two person play.
Anna played out by Sharon Rose set the perfect scene of her successful professional life with prose poetry and dance. She had everything a Black girl would want except in this life, devoid of a man’s love and affection, marriage and children. She would ponder, analyse control and create a checklist of the perfect man. When will happen, and how, who will it be are the questions on hers and many lips. Her family being instrumental in her thought processes.
In enters a man of many faces and names characterised by the actor Reece Richards. The dating app scene felt familiar, and modern with a set list of what many women find themselves doing when scrolling through dating sites to try and find that ‘perfect match’. Anna stumbles through awkward moments of highs and lows just like any relationship it may seem. Richards compliments Sharon in this choreographic ensemble of moves and grooves as they entwine themselves in this portrayal of family, personal and friendship relationships. Reece transitions smoothly from character to character as the play progressed through time and motion.
There were awkward moments when Sharon addressed the audience wanting an interactive response, was she out or in character, unsure, which was confusing and hard to tell if this was meant to feel this way. Anna’s character lacked passion and emotion at times when delivering her monologues of narrative and ethereal poetry. Beautiful words and sentiments written by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour which should be in a book of poetry, it just didn’t land perfectly in the theatre or have the same impact a reader would have. A little misunderstood in places between the characters at times however this could improve with time as the play continues through its season at the Omnibus. The music reflected the narrative and the choreography was symbiotic and it was pleasure to watch a beautiful couple dance and groove in joy and intimacy to reflect the feelings of love heartbreak and confusion, without a doubt.
Love steps may not appeal to everyone and will possible divide the critics. It is a play of two halves with a fusion of meaningful dance and poetry and a storyline of relationship realism with highs and lows which may well resonate or not with audiences wanting an alternative play.
Written and Directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour’s & supported by Talawa Theatre Company
Choreography and Movement Direction by Leroy ‘FX’ Dias Dos Santos.
Playing until 20th April, LOVE STEPS – Omnibus Theatre (omnibus-clapham.org)
Reviewer: Michelle Knight
Reviewed: 5th April 2024
North West End UK Rating: