Rhapsody is the story of the relationship between Asia (Veronica Beatrice Lewis) who is a nurse and Yousef (Shaun Blackstock) who is a music producer (or at least he tries to be).

 

The set is minimal with only a table and some music but that helps to keep the focus on the narrative, especially because the story jumps from present to the past, so we can see Asia and Yousef since the first moment they met until their relationship is agonizing.

There are many funny moments, principally in the first half; the chemistry between the two actors is great and makes the whole story very believable. Then the relationships starts to break down –also because Asia has mental health issues- and the couple realize that maybe their love was not so strong.

 

Because the play talks also about mental health and separation, I found that this could have been explored a bit better and deeper. On the other hand, it is a pleasure to see this love story and his trajectory: the moment of the sparkle, the enthusiasm of the beginning, until the distance starts to torn the couple apart with incomprehension and selfishness.

 

Again there are many funny and real moments in this play:  I particularly liked the scene of the dinner, where Asia is more focused on Facebook comments to the picture she posted than on what Yousef cooked.

We see Asia who struggles to love and to open herself completely to Yousef, but we also see Yousef who does not hesitate to declare his love to Asia..but is that real love? Or maybe he just cares about her?

 

Rhapsody is a funny and moving play that touches with acuteness experiences, situations and topics that we all are familiar with and will make you think about them even when you have left the theatre.