I Love You Michael, from Nadine | Old Red Lion Theatre

‘We trust only in what we feel’... A simple yet poignant line that compliments the narrative being woven by the actors beautifully in Megan Marszal’s ‘I Love You Michael, From Nadine’. Performed at Old Red Lion Theatre, a theatre with little room to escape scrutiny, Marszal’s slick and detailed writing misses few beats and Charlotte Sheehan’s direction works effectively in this space. It is 75 minutes of engaging, high quality writing and performances.

Based on the true story of Nadine Vajour, a 19 year old jazz singer who falls in love with outlaw Michael Vajour, the play explores the excitement of dangerous young love and what happens when the past comes knocking and the truth must be told. Ellie Baldwin guides us in the early scenes and throughout as Young Nadine, bestowed with the difficult task of lengthy monologues, she holds herself with great confidence, her voice soothing and clear even if sometimes a little rushed in the higher intensity moments, a natural storyteller and a strong performance.

Kate Harbour and Megan Marszal have a great rapport as older Nadine and CeCe as we learn of their relationship as estranged mother and daughter. Marszal’s comedic line delivery lands well in the moments before their meeting, matching her character's subtle desperation to find answers. You can see her dedication in her beautiful monologue work, her imagination flaring as she recites an unfortunate event.

Harbour is brilliantly grounded as Nadine, you are hit with the immediate sense that this actor is in control and experienced, it’s particularly moving when making her declaration of what it is to love someone, yet heartbreaking and ironic when her love towards her child seems to fail in comparison to that of her love of Michael. Leaving the haunting question lingering ‘Shouldn’t it be the other way around?’ The three performances all have moments of brilliance and glide beautifully throughout.

Rhys Cannon’s set design effectively coaxes you into the space with wonderful detail amongst it, it matches Nadine’s character and allows the actors to be free amongst the stage yet with a sense of stability for the more emotive scenes and moments. Cameron Pike’s lighting works perfectly, with the swooning lower tones for that of the jazz club and the bright harshness of Nadine’s house complimenting the energy of the two women finally being seen and seeing each other with nowhere for the truth to hide in the end. A very solid technical production.

Marszal’s writing in this play truly showcases her talent to weave engaging and thoughtful narratives into the most miscellaneous of stories. The audience always loves to know something some characters maybe don’t and this play is credit to that.

With strong writing and performances, ‘I Love You Michael, from Nadine’ is a play that not only deserves to be watched, but remembered.

Tickets & More Information

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted ticket in return for an honest review