Young reviewer KELLY HUSCROFT gives her views on Aspects of Love, at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal until September 15. THE first show in the newly refurbished theatre seems to have received a mixed response. It opens with a popular Andrew Lloyd Webber song, and possibly the only one in the show everyone knows – Love Changes Everything. And as the ‘main’ song was over within the opening minutes of the show, there is little to look forward to or anticipate. After a slow start, the pace of the performance picks up with more upbeat songs about the fairground and in the second act a trip to the circus. In typical Lloyd Webber style, you can identify musical motifs throughout that belong to his other musicals. However, the plot of this show is a little complicated – an intertwining story of love, lust, incest and underage relations. But this seems to be overlooked as a collective sigh sweeps across the audience when David Essex (playing George, Alex’s uncle) enters the stage. His teenage fans, now grown up, still swoon over his ageing good looks. Throughout the first half you are introduced to Rose, Alex’s first love and now George’s wife, and Giullietta – their lover! Fast, smooth transitions between scenes during the first half, leave no room for applause so it is difficult to tell how appreciative the audience are. But once the interval comes they express the approval they’ve saved up throughout. The second half is more of the same – Alex off in the army and returning after years away, and the love triangle of George, Rose and Giullietta. You are also introduced to George and Rose’s 15-year-old daughter, Jenny (Rachel Lynes). She plays a convincing young teen, but in song her voice was too strong to have the same immaturity. Coming to the end of the show, the plot becomes more complicated. Alex and Jenny are together, George and Rose are still married and Giullietta seems to have distanced herself from everyone. But, once George dies, they all reunite. Rose and Alex are still in love but Alex is with Jenny, and then meets Giullietta for the first time. He falls for her leaving Rose and Jenny devastated. The overall performance – acting, singing and dancing – could not be faulted and the scene changes were flawless. The cast were obviously passionate and still on a high from Lloyd Webber himself calling the show “the finest production of the musical he had seen”. As for the story, the jury is out. | 
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