Stage Kiss Review: Ambiguity Undermines Romance
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- Stage Kiss is a romantic comedy set in 2011 that follows actors cast in a fictional 1930s melodrama called The Last Kiss.
- Blanche McIntyre’s production works well enough, delivering a steady stream of jokes and satirical nods to the genre.
- Patrick Kennedy plays He, a lead whose chemistry with She is undercut by the play’s ambiguous metatheatrical structure.
- MyAnna Buring plays She, a married character whose rekindled romance with He lacks emotional power due to the play’s slippery narrative.
- Robert Innes Hopkins’ set design uses revolving pieces to shift between rehearsal room, stage, and He’s flat, creating a fluid visual experience.
Why it matters: Audience members lose emotional resonance as the play’s metatheatrical ambiguity undermines the central romance, while the inventive set design may boost director Blanche McIntyre’s reputation and attract future experimental theatre investments.
