REVIEW: “Life X 3”, Loft Theatre

Tony Homer reviews Yasmina Reza’s “Life X 3” at the Loft Theatre, Leamington.

Is this just fantasy?

Imagine going to see a play (or a film) with no appreciation of the subject matter, the concept, the storyline, anyone else’s critique. You go in maybe knowing the title. That’s all. I was certainly not in this position for Life x 3. Having acted in ‘Art’ and ‘God of Carnage’ by Yasmina Reza and auditioned for this production, my viewpoint was severely biased. Unlike my friend who accompanied me, who couldn’t recall having been to see a proper play and had not been informed of the premise of this one. 

So what did we make of it? This play that repeats itself twice during the course of an evening at the home of Henri and Sonia. We’re set in a middle class living room, daringly painted red walls and red central table, huge rear window that offers a chance to see the night sky and the universe that is central to Henri’s work. They’re trying to deal with their child who won’t go to sleep and adopting opposing styles of negotiation. The bickering starts early. Then their guests arrive, seemingly a night early. There’s no food in, so a running gag revolves around the deliciousness of chocolate fingers and barbecue Wotsits.

Hubert and Inès are also at loggerheads it seems. The first run through left me not feeling empathetic to any of them. Arrogant Hubert, superbly characterised by a bullish Paul Curran in suit and tie. His vocal technique gave real attack to the character and for me his voice reminds me of Colin Firth. Which can’t be a bad thing. Henri, desperate to achieve yet plainly insecure, Dave Crossfield perfectly weak and dishevelled. His strong willed wife Sonia elegantly portrayed by the confident and beautiful (my friend is smitten) Elizabeth Morris. And finally Inès, subjugated wife to Henri, who tries to make her voice heard, an equally fine performance from Cheryl Laverick.

Second time around the mood shifts, lines are played differently and sometimes by different characters. And by the third circuit things feel more positive and less antagonistic.

Sue Moore completes her hat trick of directing Reza’s plays and brings out the best of her actors who seemed on this outing to get better as the evening progressed. There are also some nice theatrical devices used to remind us we are watching a play and not reality.

Overall, an enjoyable and at times amusing evening. But not quite on a par with her other works. And my friend? He came, he saw, he liked it.

“Life X 3” plays until the 27th of January – tickets here.