One Kiss At Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Review

Reviewed by Julie Hayward

I shared a lovely evening out at our local theatre with my aunt. I knew the play that I had invited her to see was about women and in particular their relationships within a family, so I thought it was something we could enjoy together.

The B2 Auditorium is an intimate venue, within the Belgrade Theatre, ideal for a smaller production. We had access to the box office, toilet facilities and bar, but the other bars and cafes were not open at this time.

As we entered, the stage was set, it had a warm and welcoming vibe. At its centre was a theatrical dressing room table with light-bulb lights around the mirror. To one side; a cosy sitting room, with an armchair, a bookcase, and a grammar-phone. To the other side, another bookcase, a bedroom lamp, and a wooden ottoman covered with a folded granny square blanket. The three distinct areas said to me, that they were separate locations, that we would be visiting throughout the show. On the edge of both sides of the stage were the musical instruments.

The lights went down, and the two musicians took their seats, Piera Onacko on keyboard and Alicia Gardener-Trejo on saxophone, clarinet, and flute. Sat at the dressing room table, looking at her reflection in the mirror was the writer and lead performer, Lara J. West, she began to sing a beautiful acoustic song “I lost myself,” this gentle introduction and soft lighting allowed the audience to sit back and enjoy the evening ahead.

We were quickly introduced to the main character Georgia, a lively Evertonian, initially we met her as a child, with many nostalgic references, to what a proper childhood was like, when I was growing up. Georgia was a Tomboy who liked to play out all day with her best friend Shirley.

With songs, humour, and some sadness, we were taken on a journey through her life. Lara slipped into the three characters of Georgia, Shirley and Maud, Georgia’s mother, effortlessly, helped by a simple wardrobe change. The audience were able to understand the relationships and the impact they had upon one-another. There was a window into momentous events of womanhood, becoming a teenager, a lover, a wife, and a mother. The story explored topics that are sometimes taboo, like; sexuality, miscarriage, the menopause, and the loneliness of getting older.
A lot was packed into the 70-minute show, with several musical styles and an original score. The musicians played an integral part, you could feel the camaraderie between the three women on the stage.

The voices and experiences of local women were included in the performance, cleverly heard as quotes from the book.

Lara J. West is an incredibly talented person, her singing is beautiful, and her character acting is very watchable, she easily became a club-singer and a stand-up comedian.

The material was relatable to whatever point you are in life; you may not have personally experienced all of the topics covered, but at some point, chances are, you will or you will know someone who has.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £10

One Kiss is at The Belgrade Theatre Coventry from Thurs 7th to Sat 9th July 2022
For more information or to book tickets visit www.belgrade.co.uk or call the box office on 024 7655 3055

Belgrade Theatre, Belgrade Square, Coventry, CV1 1GS