Writer/Director: Gur Arie Piepskovitz
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Anti-Rom-Com“
4 / 5
Guy is obsessed with music – needing a different song to match every situation he finds himself in, to ensure he has the perfect soundtrack for each moment.
This drives Guy’s (Avihud Tidhar) partner John (Brodie Bass) crazy – not only do they have very different music tastes, but they’re pretty much polar opposites in every way; John is responsible, tidy and organised, Guy is spontaneous, carefree and forgetful. Their differences create a friction filled partnership, seemingly unable to agree on anything. When John completes his PHD on queer relationships, all he wants is a civilised dinner with friends, but Guy has forgotten to defrost the salmon, hasn’t cleaned up and more importantly (to Guy only), hasn’t finished curating the right playlist for the evening. Their guests Tyler (Waylon Jacobs) and Zayn (Reece Lewis) witness the couple’s deterioration in real time, replacing popcorn with prosecco as they watch the drama unfold.
Piepskovitz’s anti-rom-com is funny, touching, and packed with pop songs that fit the vibe throughout. Guy is a likeable character, played well by Tidhar, allowing the audience to warm to him quickly and easily. As an alternative cabaret artist, the sub-plot of him trying to piece together a show, and being harshly critiqued by the snarky judges (Jacobs & Lewis) is also enjoyable, and allow insight into his brain, realising that it’s not just John or his audience constantly picking fault or offering suggestions on how to improve, it’s his own internal monologue as well.
John, in the hands of many other actors, would be strict and unforgiving, unlikeable and nagging. But Bass plays him with an endearing tenderness – yes, he can be strict with Guy, but he seems to do it out of love, and his measured, in control persona, accompanied with his humorous quips, makes Bass compelling to watch. Jacobs and Lewis are very funny as the highly exaggerated judges, bringing their comedic timing also into their roles as Zayn and Tyler. The four have easy, believable chemistry, and with Piepskovitz shifting the dynamics between them throughout the evening, it ensures that they give a varying range to each of their performances that help to engage the audience.
There are some insightful discussions about relationships, conveyed well by both cast and script, and the subsequent breakup is shown with emotion and heart. With a long list of Spotify artists and songs that Guy holds dear, the playlist throughout the show is spot on, and perfectly matched.
Runs until 22nd August 2026
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