A funny, dynamic play about nostalgia and family
Suitable for ages 14+.
Love You More is a celebration of childhood – in particular, teenage fandom and the relationship between a mother and daughter. Written by, produced by, and starring Sarah O’Dell, based on the love she shared with her mother, the play is filled with goofy comedy and bittersweet nostalgia.
O’Dell is such fun to watch as Matilda Burton, a massive fan of pop icon Henry Steel! Her performance is passionate, and her comedy is brazenly electric. She allows us to look back on fangirl behaviour not with embarrassment (even if it may have involved making two dolls kiss and fantasising about marriage), but with immense fondness. Being young and madly in love with a celebrity was the peak of our joy in life, so it was lovely to watch such an exciting and memorable production.
The chemistry between O’Dell and Katherine De Leiros, who plays Matilda’s mother Rosie, is one of such beautiful sensitivity. De Leiros delivers an excellent performance – I could hear several audience members becoming emotional! O’Dell succeeds in writing a sweet person without being overly saccharine; Rosie is a very likeable character, and De Leiros’s scenes are enjoyable to watch.
Alongside the hilarious moments, Love You More explores bereavement and how it can affect a person years down the line. This is a testament to O’Dell’s ability to nicely blend the two stories – the fangirling and the mother-daughter love – so that the character of Matilda is fully fleshed out and compelling to watch. To see O’Dell switch between playing a carefree girl and an adult who has held on to her giddy optimism despite her sadness was truly amazing.
Dan Nash showcases a great range! He plays the singer Henry Steel, as well as other characters such as Matilda’s obnoxious brother. His comic timing is fantastic, and his confidence adds to the image of the cute boy singer that every woman spent their teenage years crushing on. All three actors genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves on stage and with each other, making Love You More a fun-filled performance for all.
I will say, however, that despite the hilarity of the comic interludes, e.g. when Matilda is interviewing the aggressive Gordon Ramsay as part of her journalism career, and a competition between four contestants to win tickets to a Henry Steel concert, they also feel slightly unnecessary. They are fun, for sure, but the scenes aren’t so seamless in relation to the rest of the play. Despite this, the actors are on their comic A-game. Love You More is a delightful play!
Kudos to all involved!