Writer: Reece Lewis
Directors: Korren-Afendi Howell and Liz Love
Reece Lewis, writer and performer of one-man show Heart, describes his passion project as ‘a love letter to all gay men’. Remembering that ‘the course of true love never did run smooth’, this description feels apt for Lewis’ complex piece.
Exploring the highs and lows of hookup culture, Heart follows self-confident 24-year-old Tyler who is looking for connection. Out and proud, he stands up to anyone who tries to shame him, whether it be anonymous Grindr trolls or his own homophobic father. Yet, even the biggest, brightest, funniest exterior can’t protect your heart forever.
Lewis is a fantastic performer who has a lot of fun on The Cockpit stage, acting both silly and serious with uninhibited energy which carries the audience like a wave. He makes the most of the performance space, venturing into the aisles and blurring the line between spectator and confidant. Beneath his strong sense of showmanship and entertaining persona, there is a genuine, endearing protagonist which viewers can’t help but invest in.
The way Lewis discusses queerness and community is a particular strength of the piece. On the one hand, he does not shy away from calling out the tiresome way gay men can categorise and divide themselves. This feeling of fatigue with the queer dating scene will hit home with many audience members and the racism which persists in dating apps is, again, unfortunately recognisable.
Lewis does, however, balance these critical observations with a strong sense of pride. He celebrates the joy, safety and inclusion of his local queer venue and refuses to back down when others try to suppress his identity.
Lewis has given fun vocal characteristics to the supporting cast of his story, using pitch and tone to distinguish between roles. Some nice moments of body language also assist character shifts, however further physicality work could be done to strengthen the separation. During quick-paced sections, such as a dinner party scene which has three roles overlapping, the swaps can become slightly muddled and risk narrative clarity.
Following an adrenaline-fuelled confrontation, a rogue time jump throws the production off-beat. It is temporarily unclear whether Lewis’ piece might have fallen at the final hurdle. Fortunately, the heartfelt scenes that follow are touching enough to justify the jarring transition. They are also brilliantly executed from an acting perspective and Lewis finishes the night on a performance high.
Heart, true to its title, captures the lifeblood of queer storytelling. Relatable yet specific, critical yet celebratory, Lewis should be proud of his exciting new production.
Runs until 13 August 2024
Camden Fringe runs until 25 August 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
Fantastic
