Polly has just come out of a long-term relationship, her ex, Joe, doesn’t return her calls, she misses the easy, mundane kind of love that they had. However, on the advice of well-meaning friends and family, she decides to get back out there and start dating.
Written and performed by Gemma Harvey, Lobster charts the highs and lows of modern dating, with Polly’s experiences all being based on real-life experiences. It quickly becomes apparent that there is something quite wrong with people, almost entirely men whose charmlessness is shown in everything from bulleted reviews of a date, to the sending of “D” pics.
However, Gemma’s witty, well-pitched script and Polly's affable character do not pass judgement, she simply struggles on, trying to make sense of it all. The conclusion points to the way in which fast-dating apps such as Tinder, Happn, Bumble, etc commodify dating, turning lovers into commodities and the date more of a transaction. Worse still, the dehumanising impact of this state of affairs makes people behave in ways that are entirely socially unacceptable.
This thoughtful play perfectly balances belly-laughs with social commentary, while taking a sharp look at the complexities of finding love in the twenty-first century.