The Perils of Love and Gravity

Michael Keane’s The Perils of Love and Gravity is a jolly and surprising analysis of the complexities of love and relationships. Marking Keane’s return to the Fringe following his successful role in 2010's The Inconsiderate Aberrations of Billy the Kid, this show follows The Engineer (Rhys Lawton) as he tells the tale of the lonely Misha (Charlie Bate) and her odd butler Graeme (Phil Mann), who live happily in their upside down house before a number of men (all played by Felix Trench) appear and win her heart – with disastrous consequences.

The perils hinted at in Keane’s contemporary take on the fairytale are varied, tragic and often unexpected, as what begins as a playful and innocent story descends into a dark tale of obsession, cruelty and betrayal. While this does give The Perils of Love and Gravity the appearance of being two very different plays that have been smashed together to create one, fractured piece, it’s actually a stinging comment on the changing and sometimes dangerous nature of love.

Performed in a Roald Dahl-inspired atmosphere, the major themes of the show deal with issues of selfishness, exploitation and violence, as just beneath the play’s warm and friendly exterior lies an unknown, lonely and frightening world. Keane’s production is a promising play performed with wit and ease. It's very funny but also thought-provoking at times, and showcases an enviable flair for comic timing and unplanned onstage acrobatics.