That Love Thing – HOME Mcr

This moving and entertaining piece follows the inner life of Peter, a man living with cerebral palsy, and his companion Michael, as they narrate the ups and downs of life with a serious disability.

All the touchstones of Peter’s life – including his love of music and Shakespeare, his relationships with his unseen mother and brother, the travails of sex and dating, and his love/hate relationships with his various wheelchairs – are covered with wry humour. Just enough detail is given in each vignette for the audience to feel that the sketch is authentic and serious without overpowering the momentum of the show.

Gradually we are introduced to main characters in Peter’s life – some real, some fictional, some perhaps both, including the Satanic Mr C.P., who appears to mock and torment Peter with growing frequency. As the show progresses, we are left to wonder if Michael is also a product of Peter’s imagination, a question that becomes increasingly important as the story heads towards its suggestive but ambiguous conclusion.

The show walks a fine line between inviting the audience to laugh at someone with cerebral palsy and to share in the tragicomic moments of ordinary life with a limiting disability. And, to its credit, it pulls this off with considerable deftness and warmth. The audience was thoroughly engaged, and some light participation was encouraged. While the surrealist style and scatological humour will not be to everyone’s taste, there are moments of genuine pathos coupled with laugh-out-loud comedy that make for a memorable performance.

Playing until 23rd November, https://homemcr.org/

Review: Amanda Hodgson

Reviewed: 19th November 2024

North West End UK Rating: