Sydney Reviews

Four voices team with one piano to create a delightful night of fun, breezy musical entertainment.
 
LoveBites is a "quirky song cycle about love and relationships" which tells the story of six different relationships - from the cute, blushing beginning of flirtation and romance, to the pointy-end of the relationship, where the connection between lovers has either grown deeper over time, or has been worn thin by frustration and hurt.
 
The music-and-lyrics team that created 'The Hatpin' which opened to audiences earlier this year to great success, has once again joined forced to write a song-cycle on the theme of Love. Or Lurrrve, as the case may be.
 
Among other stories, there is the film star and flight attendant who arrange some 'personal entertainment' mid-flight, a twittering dame who valiantly pretends to love rockclimbing to impress her new beau, and (a personal favourite) the story of two members of a bookclub, startled to be left alone to chat over the merits of George Orwell when nobody else shows. 
 
The production is small-scale, with a simple open stage, a slide-show of projected images, and a piano to one side where composer Peter Rutherford accompanies the four singers, Octavia Barron-Martin, Tyler Burness, Sarah Croser and James Millar, who co-wrote the show with Rutherford, supplying the lyrics. While occasional vocal shrillness from Barron-Martin marred an otherwise entertaining performance, overall each of the performers displayed great comic timing, heartfelt engagement with the more tender, sorrowful stories, and a strong command of the music.
 
This is a sweet, fun, modest show that sets itself a simple concept and executes it sharply, cleverly and with high entertainment value.

But be warned – after seeing this show, you may find yourself fighting the urge to carry out every conversation you have the next day in song.


White Box presents
LoveBites
Lyrics by James Millar Music by Peter Rutherford

Venue: Downstairs Theatre, Seymour Centre | Cnr Cleveland St & City Road, Chippendale
Season: June 18 – July 12
Performances: Tuesday – Saturday 8pm; Saturday 5pm
Prices: Full: $39; Concession: $32
Bookings: 02 9351 7940 or www.seymourcentre.com.au