This play draws together the experiences of the author during her time spent in America, looking at the lives of four women and their intimate relationships in a backwater café, where the women, Mr Love, and Crow spoke freely. We are party to the increasing tension, frustrations and awakenings they experience as they grow into a new phase of their life journeys.

Merle opens the play as she arrives at the café seeking solace from her previous relationship. Her aim is to lick her wounds in the sanctity of an all-female environment. Crow disturbs her peace of mind, knocking at the door and innocently requesting a cup of water. He returns, some months later and is hired by the women to do odd jobs around the café, partly causing friction as he takes over from Rocky. Each of the women develop a relationship with him - one even breaking from her 12 year partnership for a one-night stand.

The play is well acted, with songs specially written for the performance and sung well by Ani Lewis (playing the part of Lizard). Lewis' acting style is particularly likeable too - laid back, effortless and open. The set is well designed, making good use of the stage space. It's not many productions where you not only see a car on stage, but also a Harley Davidson!

But what of Mister Love? The part is acted superbly by Ben Johnson. His characterisation and timing is perfect in each of his scenes. I would appreciate the chance to go back and watch again just in order to be able to pay more attention to the other characters, as he actually became the focus of many of the scenes in which he was acting as a strangely unreal presence, adding an extra dimension to the squabbles of the women.

To me, Mister Love himself was an enigma. Why did he not speak? I was expecting him to come up with a closing line that would have tied the play together, or for him to have given a reason as to why Crow and Merle both had crow feathers, yet it was never fully explained. Coincidence? Or an idea that could have been further developed?
It is reassuring to know that we have such a wide range of new authors to provide us with thought provoking theatre, and commend Marta Emmitt on her script.

Karen Fletcher, 10.06.04