‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’

‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ is a fast-paced, spoof created and developed by the cast. The innovative production team, ‘The Cutting Room Floor’, is now in its fourth year of presenting quality plays under the guidance of Scott Corbett and Zoe Hollyoak.

This 45-minute play is part of the City of Perth Winter Arts Festival, and it is recommended for ages 15+.

This presentation can be seen in the main theatre, at the Blue Room, 53 James Street, Northbridge each evening at 7.00 pm, with performances until 25th June.

Could Tina Turner’s disc of 1984, with the same name be the idea behind this play?

 

The scene is a bright, white laboratory and boardroom in a pharmaceutical factory. There is a long white Board table with white leather cubes for seats (designer Olivia Tartaglia). The numerous red rose petals seemed to represent love and truth. The plain set allowed the lighting designer (Scott McArdle) and the soundscape designer (Shaun Pickett) to cleverly add the various moods. The stage management is by Liz Newell

 

      An International Pharmaceutical Group are developing a complex pill – ‘The Remedy’ – that can cure a broken heart and remove any romantic stress or conscience. The company seems to be run by a Board of automatons, all in mindless tune but sure where they are heading.

     With so much money at stake, and increasing vocal opposition from well-known, global personalities, a Board meeting has been called. The CEO, board member three (Phoebe Sullivan) is a bully who will try anything to succeed.

    In charge of product promotion is smooth talking ‘number five’ (Tristan McInnes), but like the others he has been chosen to be the CEO’s ‘yes’ man. ‘Number one’ (Zoe Hollyoak) has great, but whacky ideas, ‘number two’ (Tristan Balz) is a lacklustre married man and ‘number four’ (Mariah O’Dea) a shy girl, looking for love and attention.

    A mixed team controlled by one omnipotent leader.

    When the CEO comes across a shy, gullible girl (Jacinta Larcombe) who is happy to act as the guinea pig for the drug trial, the drug’s success must surely be just around the corner.

 

Director, Rachael Woodward, has selected a skilled cast with proven credentials, who physically look different and then carefully matched the play’s personalities to their appearance. With some lateral thinking, the director has given the play a range of genres.

The cast members have created an interesting script, with numerous laugh-aloud moments. The actors have several characters each to portray, and without the need for a costume change, they capture familiar personalities with flare and energy.

This was a fast moving, fun-packed novel show. Professionally presented both by the actors and techs.