Things We Do For Love at The Lowry, Manchester Review
Things We Do For Love
The Lowry, Manchester
2-7 June 2014
Reviewed by Karina Daniels
Theatre Royal Bath Productions presents Thing We Do For Love is one of Alan Ayckbourn’s many plays and I have to say was truly enjoyable.
This play was first staged in 1997.
The things we do for love is funny, tells a story of up and down relationships and the outcome is not your usual happy ending love story.
The play is set in a house in Fullham.
Barbara (played by Claire Price) owns the house and plays a spinster whom portrays that she is happy to be on her own and not in a relationship but really she is desperate for some male attention.
Barbara has a neighbor Gilbert (played by Simon Gregor). Gilbert plays a postman whose wife had passed a few years previous and does odd jobs around the house for Barbara. Gilbert is secretly obsessed with Barbara and the story unfolds that he secretly wears her clothes and shoes and has painted naked pictures of her on the ceiling of his flat. I personally found Gilbert hilariously funny; one scene in particular where Gilbert is drunk and invited to Barbara’s for dinner I thought was perfectly played and had the audience in hysterics.
Nikki better known as the beautiful Natalie Imbruglia whom is a former star of ~Neighbors and is a successful pop singer plays Barbara’s school friend whom has been unlucky in love but recently met the man of her dreams (Hamish) played by Edward Bennett.
Nikki and Hamish have decided to set up home together but decide to rent our Barbara’s upstairs flat whilst waiting for their house to be ready.
When Hamish and Barbara first meet they absolutely hate each other but the play tells the story of problem between Hamish and Nikki and how Barbara and Hamish become attracted to each other.
There are some hilarious scenes in the upstairs part of the house of Barbara and Hamish ravishing each other. The trick of the scene is that you only see the bottom part of the upstairs flat meaning that you just see the characters feet and hear lots of moaning and groaning whilst Hamish’s unsuspecting partner is in the bath.
There are scenes of a ferocious fight between Hamish and Barbara as the story unfolds and there whirlwind love affair comes to light.
Nikki looks up to Barbara and is truly devastated by Barbara and Hamish’s betrayal.
This is a truly entertaining and fantastic story about real life ups and downs of relationships and is not your usual fairy tale love story happy ending.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £19.50 to £31.50 (includes £2 booking fee).
Things We Do For Love is at The Lowry until 7 June 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0843 208 6000.
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AZ | 0843 208 6000
