Love Or Best Offer

Love or Best Offer is described as a romantic comedy. It was a light-hearted production and so easy to enjoy, a delight that focuses on the ups and downs of over 50 online dating, with just four characters directed by Sam Allan.

Having reviewed several performances by The Grange Players at The Grange Playhouse, I am consistently impressed by their brilliantly designed sets, and it was clear from the moment I descended the steps to take my seat and looked at the stage that this production was no exception. The play explores the trials and tribulations of online dating, moving seamlessly between fast-paced exchanges between the key roles of Cheryl and Stan; and casual follow up chats with their respective friends, Lori and Dave, who give them the worst dating advice. All the struggles of online dating come to the forefront in this play, including rejection, all in an offer to find love.

In Sam’s second stage production, as in her first, she injected an energetic pace, using swift scene transitions supported technically with areas of the stage spotlighted to distinguish the different locations. Because Cheryl and Stan’s romance develops almost entirely through video calls and text messages, stage direction required actors, Joanne James, who played Cheryl, and Carl Horton, who played Stan, to treat their laptops or phones as their primary window to one another. The result was a visually engaging, well performed production that reflected the strength of her set design.

The lighting design, credited by the skilful Stan Vigurs, effectively signalled shifts in mood, time and place, making his precise operation of the lighting cues essential to every performance. Rapid wardrobe changes reflected the passage of time, and this required frequent costume changes, though I noted, in most cases they were subtle i.e. Cheryl wore a wide variety of colourful blouses but maintained wearing her black trousers.

Phil Olson’s Love…or Best Offer used an effective split-stage design. Cheryl’s living room was placed on the left, furnished largely in white and cream, while Stan’s home office occupied the right, styled as a man cave with Game of Thrones figurines, a desk, computer and chair. Lori’s home was represented by a smaller area at the front of the stage, and Dave’s apartment was suggested on the opposite side with a simple chair and table.

The play centres on two would-be lovers, Cheryl and Stan. Cheryl is cautiously navigating online dating as she tries to move on after her husband’s death and her estrangement from her son, hoping to find someone stable. Stan, a millionaire computer analyst, newly divorced from his gold-digging wife, is also looking for true love with someone who is not after his money. Lori, Cheryl’s supportive friend, encourages her to return to dating, while Dave, Stan’s best friend, mirrors Lori’s role by offering equally poor advice. Cheryl and Stan begin a series of Zoom meetings that test their willingness to lower their defences. Their challenge is to overcome real-world insecurities, misunderstandings and the fear of vulnerability.

The entire cast were excellent. The demanding, dialogue-heavy script was filled with sharp one-liners, all delivered with natural ease. Joanne James, as Cheryl, and Carl Horton, as Stan, both gave remarkable performances. Joanne seemed made for the role, bringing warmth and confidence to Cheryl. Seen only in her fresh, feminine living room, Cheryl appeared organised but cautious. Fearful of losing someone again, she initially kept Stan at a distance, seeming reserved and hesitant. Joanne’s expressive face, attentive reactions to awkward online encounters and responses to Lori’s poor advice made Cheryl convincing and sympathetic. Her frustration over her estranged son added further depth, making the character relatable and likeable. Joanne’s grounded, deeply felt performance made every moment believable.

Carl Horton portrayed Stan as eager, awkward and prone to falling too fast as he tried to navigate online dating. Newly divorced and financially successful, Stan was played with sincerity, patience and flustered energy, especially during disastrous text exchanges and phone calls from his home office on the split stage. Carl delivered a wholly entertaining performance, full of endearing awkwardness and quiet vulnerability. His Stan was a wonderful blend of neurosis and warmth, making the dialogue feel completely spontaneous and, with some well-timed, comedic moments, his journey through the madness of online romance was a joy to watch.

Sam’s direction of Stan and Cheryl’s online dates created a striking visual irony. Although the characters shared the same physical stage, they spoke through their devices and never looked directly at one another, a disciplined choice sustained throughout the play. The lighting and split-stage design kept their separate worlds distinct while still visually connecting them for the audience. By directing their gaze towards their laptops or phones, the production made the screen feel like a protective barrier, allowing the audience to see the emotions and insecurities Stan and Cheryl concealed from each other.

Jill Simkin played Lori, Cheryl’s well-meaning friend, who encourages her to move beyond her comfort zone. Jill delivered Lori’s dating advice and sharp dialogue with confidence, expression and lively movement, often from her own separate space at the side of the stage.

Ray Lawrence brought Stan’s best friend and business executive, Dave, to life. Dave genuinely wanted Stan to be happy, and Ray captured their natural chemistry convincingly, showing him as protective, sceptical and sincerely concerned for his friend. From his space at the side of the stage, Dave often advised Stan, reacting to his online text exchanges and dating decisions with expressive body language and blunt comments that suggested his influence over Stan.

This was a thoroughly charming evening of live theatre: a warm-hearted theatrical triumph, visually slick and driven by sharp dialogue and pace. Effortlessly entertaining, it connected well with the audience, which was disappointingly smaller than usual. It certainly deserved a larger turnout.

Congratulations to Sam and the crew and to the amazing cast.

Thank you for inviting me, I am certainly looking forward to the new season and celebrating 75 years of The Grange Players!

Ann Escritt. Regional Representative, District 07

Attending productions throughout the West Midlands, it is always a pleasure to receive an invitation to The Grange Playhouse. Why? There are several reasons.

The first is the warm welcome extended by the Front of House team to everyone who walks through the doors. Next comes the expectation of another first-class set, designed and constructed to an exceptionally high standard. Finally, there is the confidence that the audience will be treated to a well-directed and superbly acted production.

Ann has quite rightly highlighted the quality of the set, with its four distinct acting areas. The attention to detail throughout was impressive, creating believable environments that were both attractive and robust. I must admit that I particularly remembered the female tennis player poster in Dave's apartment!

The Grange stage is not the largest, making the lighting design all the more commendable. Each acting area was illuminated precisely when required, whilst the remaining areas were left in darkness, ensuring the audience's focus was always drawn to the action. Achieving this so seamlessly deserves considerable praise.

I can add little to Ann's excellent observations regarding the characterisations, other than to congratulate the cast on maintaining excellent stage discipline by never acknowledging activity taking place elsewhere on stage. I particularly enjoyed the reactions of Carl as Stan and Joanne as Cheryl whenever each believed the other had left the online meeting, only to discover they were still very much present. Those moments were timed perfectly and provided some of the evening's biggest laughs.

As The Grange Playhouse prepares to celebrate its 75th season, I look forward with great anticipation to returning for more productions of the consistently high standard that audiences have come to expect from this excellent company.

Andy Brown, Regional Councillor NODA West Midlands.

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