★★★★☆

Every day we work with people, we dine with people, we come across people. But you may never know what is going on in their lives.

This is the premise of Tasting Notes a new musical by Richard Baker and Charlie Ryall. Set in a 24 hour period in LJs Wine Bar, this small cast of six all shine as they tell their own stories.

It’s Monday 14th July, 7pm. LJ is trying to contact George who hasn’t turned up for his shift. Oliver really needs to finish his shift and get home to give tablets to his arthritic cat. Maggie is plodding along with another shift, trying to hide her crush on Oliver. Eszter is working hard in the kitchen when she receives a call from her son. And regular customer Joe is killing time, not wanting to go home.

These 24 hours replay 6 times, each time from a different character’s point of view. The writing is clever as these stories interweave. The dialogue may sometimes repeat, other times it is different as we realise that different characters have interpreted encounters differently.

Zamit and Kipling as LJ and George

Nancy Zamit starts the show with LJs story. She has a wonderfully warm voice as she takes control of the stage. I had heard her sing improvisation during Mischief Movie Night In, but she was fantastic here. Emotions went from comic (what DO you use to fix a crack in the wall) to tragedy and she took us all with her on that journey. Her character is definitely the most fleshed out and likeable – and it did leave me wanting ‘something’ more from the other characters.

Next to tell their story was Charlie Ryan as Maggie. She was wonderful. Very understated when required, but drew us in with her portrayal of a struggling actor who had had any confidence in herself destroyed and was scared to move on from an abusive relationship.

Joe’s story (Stephen Hoo) completed Act 1. This was when I really stopped to think about how you don’t know what is going in in people’s lives. There was heartbreak in his voice as you saw the results of tragedy bringing him down. I admit I would have liked the events leading up to this to have been explored more.

Act 2 started with Sam Kipling as the flamboyant and confident George. But as with so many confident people, that confidence is rarely anything other than surface deep. The person who seemed cold and uncaring in LJ and Maggie’s story really did have a heart when the story was told from his point of view. Once again very clever writing.

Wendy Morgan as Eszter is next. Having already impressed with a full telephone conversation in Hungarian, we now hear that conversation again, but in English. Her portrayal of an immigrant who is underestimated purely because she doesn’t speak perfect English is a reminder to all of us that we should never judge a book by its cover.

Finally George tells his story. Played by Niall Ransome this takes the show in a different turn right at the end and shocked me – I definitely did not see it coming. This is testimony to Ransome’s performance.

Ryall and Ransome as Maggie and Oliver

Comedy, romance, tragedy, reality, honesty. This new musical has it all and was perfectly suited to The Little at the Playhouse. The intimacy of this venue added to the experience. Would it have a life elsewhere? It’s hard to tell. It is not suited to larger venues but I can see it doing well with small amateur groups looking for something simple to stage.

Tasting Notes runs until 27 August at The Southwark Playhouse

https://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/the-little/tasting-notes/

Photos © Chris Marchant