Despite getting the full low down on Do You Love Me Yet?, the brand new digital show being brought to us this week by Oxford Playhouse, I still had no idea what to expect.
I knew that the two actors in ‘an experimental generation of interpersonal closeness’ would meet for the first time online, and in front of us, the audience, as it turned out.
We were also told that they are unknown to each other and have not rehearsed for this new, live, experimental outing.
“I’M TEMPTED TO TUNE IN EVERY NIGHT. I HOPE YOU WILL TOO”
We are also informed that the duo will be prompted to answer questions and tell stories about themselves. But that was all. How it would manifest itself remained an enigma.
So tuning in at 8pm was as much of a mystery to us as it was to them.
Thus starts Do You Love Me Yet?, creating its own buzz before it’s even begun.
I ascertained through extensive Google searching that I was watching John Pfumojena and Patrick Osborne, just two of the actors taking part in this fascinating project on a daily basis.
They appear on our screens as anyone would on a Zoom call, (despite being broadcast via YouTube), sitting in their homes, alone, staring at the screen.
It takes a while to work out what’s going on as they, in turn, talk abstractly about certain experiences or topics, without rhyme nor reason.
‘Do You Love Me Yet?’ is about showing that an audience is out there waiting, and that we still care
It slowly becomes clear that the two are answering questions asked to them in turn onscreen that we can’t see, unable to reveal the topic.
But what transpires is a beautiful, poignant, difficult, enlightening, brave and intimate experience of two strangers sharing their personal thoughts, experiences, doubts, fears, memories and humour.
It leaves you guessing the questions, as you try to unravel their reactions.
From John discussing his childhood in Zimbabwe, anecdotes about meeting Liam Neeson when he’s on Broadway, to the difficulties in ascertaining English politeness, our weather and adapting to life in London, to memories of a beach in Ghana and revelations about his own childhood. A wonderful, sunny, generous nature which has me howling with laughter at times.
Patrick is more introspective, more considered, more hesitant. While both refer to the difficulties experienced by actors in the current pandemic and the current lack of work in their industry, his observations are more acute, more real, more painful to watch.
It is as much about what they don’t say, as what they do, and it’s spell-binding, the hour passing quickly. But the solitariness of their situation only exacerbates what the pandemic is doing to us all, and how isolating it can be, presumably purposefully.
Which makes you even more impressed by Oxford Playhouse, with the help of TORCH, and an amazing team, is its determination to air new work, revive experimental theatre, and provide opportunities, however fleeting, for some of the thousands of actors and theatre-makers waiting for a time when our creative industry can get back to doing what they do best.
Apart from the unseen questions raised on screen, Do You Love Me Yet? does produce a legion of my own. Could anyone do this or only actors? What must it be like to be put on the spot like this when they are used to learning lines, rehearsing and more importantly always playing someone else. How do they feel about suddenly being laid so bare in front of an unforgiving camera. Did they enjoy it? Does it need to be so confessional?
And then the tone and the mood changes as the pair begin to answer the same questions, like two mates sitting in a pub chatting, rather than projecting singley, laughing together instead of alone, empathising and nodding, spurring each other along, demonstrating the need, the joy of companionship and solidarity.
At the end of the show they have to say what they’ve learned and like about each other, which is rather like watching some sort of friends reality show, and they come to the same conclusions as I did. But more importantly they like each other, respect each other, come out of it together, and achieve something special together.
I hope when this is all over John and Patrick do meet to share a pint in London and get to know each other better.
In the meantime, Rudi Dharmalingam, Lauren Drummond, Alex Lawther, Rehanna MacDonald, Rachel Nwokoro, Ann Queensbury, EM Williams and Angus Wright are still to come, as Do You Love Me Yet? runs all week.
I’m tempted to tune in every night. I hope you will too, because if nothing else Do You Love Me Yet? is about proving that an audience is still out there waiting for their talents, and that we still care.
KATHERINE MACALISTER
Do You Love Me Yet? runs from Oxford Playhouse until Wednesday 4 and then again on Sat 7 November.
- There is a post-Show Q&A on Wednesday with Professor Wes Williams, TORCH Director, Jocelyn Cox & Samuel E. Taylor.
