Barcelona

Duke of York's Theatre

A hot night in Barcelona, not as hot as the romance on the stage. 90 minutes of undressing the layers of Lilly Collins and Álvaro Morte's characters to reveal the pair's concealed struggles.

For 90 minutes the audience are transported to Barcelona on a beautiful evening. Shadows dance around the stage foreshadowing the hidden stories of the two characters; Irene, played by Emily in Paris star Lily Collins and Manuel played by Álvara Morte. The piece follows a one-night stand. American tourist, Irene is on a bachelorette and has gone home with a mysterious Spanish man who she met at the bar, Manuel. It is a comedy, mixed with a thought provoking and tragic back story. Bess Wohl has written an extremely clever piece of theatre here and Lynette Linton the director has given the writing justice. You will be shocked at the story, but when you realise, you will notice how high quality the writing, production elements and acting is. Don't worry this review will avoid spoilers!

Álvaro Morte's acting skills are high quality in this show. He has fully embodied his character and has the most interesting arc that develops throughout the piece. The moments he is silent and listening stick with you, because his reactions and his non verbal actions slowly reveal his personality. The audience are drawn to him; you desperately try to work him and is intentions out. Lily Collins character is similar to Emily from Emily in Paris. It is clear that Lilly Collins is a pro at portraying this character type. Irene's lacks depth and it's hard to empathise with her character; compared to the emotion you feel towards Manuel. She plays a woman who is living her life pleasing others and it's led this pivotal moment in her life. The play shows a pivotal moment in both of their lives that evening. The portrayal of Irene is over exaggerated and rushed. Moments feel lost in the speed of the lines and her drunk acting seems unrealistic.

Light slowly pushes through the windows as the night goes on and the way this is done is so beautifully captivating. As the sun slowly rises, the lighting mimics the perfect Spanish sun. This also puts the audience on the edge of their seat as they find out the pair need to get out of the building before the morning comes! This lighting element acts as a timer and this is an intriguing tactic. The set is a homely flat and the interior gives you the impression of a Spanish flat, there are boxes in the corners, a cuddly donkey on a shelf and a sofa with a blanket on it. The interior is not what you would expect of a middle-aged single man. As the piece goes on, the setting and how empty it feels makes sense. During the opening of the piece a shadow dances across the walls, it resembles Irene, this is an eye catching, authentic and beautiful production element. The attention to detail is magnificent in this piece, it mirrors the writing perfectly and foreshadows the story.

All in all great writing, great production elements and a strong character arc for Manuel and the piece would benefit from deeper exploration into Irenes character, because she just comes across self absorbed and her story is clear from the start. However, the chemistry between the two is no lie; it's hot and intense. Not sure about the toe sucking though. Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte bounce off each other, their feelings towards each other are clear and the audience leaves wanting to know what comes next for the pair. This piece of theatre will thrive on The Duke of York stage this winter period and it's perfect to take your mind off the biting, chilly weather outside. Get your sangria at the ready for Barcelona.