Let There Be Love tells the story of West Indian pensioner Alfred (Joseph Marcell) and his struggle for independent living in modern-day Britain as an OAP.  The introduction of Polish house-help Maria (Lydia Leonard) into his life prompts examination of issues of Alfred’s relationship with his daughters and ex-wife, and his very own existence. As well as Maria’s experience as a Polish immigrant.

The set is a front room in a Willesden Green house, and the room is furnished convincingly as an old West Indian family home, and this helps Alfred’s character to appear more authentic. Unfortunately the lighting between scenes allowing prop rearrangement to be overly seen disrupts the flow and authenticity of the play for the viewer.

It’s a pleasant experience for the audience to witness the connection and natural flow of lines between Alfred and Maria. A well-rehearsed script leads to fluid banter and interaction between the two, allowing the audience to become immersed in the plot regularly and the story to be conceived as believable.
The troubled relationship between Alfred and his daughter Gemma (Sharon Duncan- Brewster) is explored, as well as Maria’s relationships with abusive boyfriend and her expectant family back in Poland, but the play would have benefited from handling fewer topics such as immigration and relationships only, as this would have given room for more exploration in acting for the cast, and focused reflection on the part of the audience.

Overall, the play provides pleasant, entertaining viewing. And although it does get a little morbid at instances, such as when dealing heavily with the issue of death, it arouses frequent sympathetic laughter from the audience in response to Alfred’s archetypal West Indian character and Maria’s struggle with the English language. However it is fluffy and perhaps a little too ambitious in its attempt to deal with topics from domestic violence through immigration to death in its two-hour running. As well as overconfident in having any expectation of leaving the audience with any lasting insightful impression, or the viewer in any serious reflective thought, especially about immigration. 

Let There Be Love
Tricyle Theatre
269 Kilburn High rd
London NW6 7JR
Box Office 020 73281000
http://www.tricycle.co.uk/htmlnew/whatson/show.php3?id=131

17 January-16 February
Mon 8pm + mid-week mats £8.50 (Weds 6 & 13 Feb)
Tues & Wed 8pm & Sat 4pm £13
Thurs & Fri £15
Sat 8pm £18