Omnibus theatre, London
Anastasia Osei-Kuffour’s stylish debut gives an honest appraisal of the tricky world of apps and expectations, yet offers a note of hope for those on the long road to romance
‘I want that movie love,” says Anna in Anastasia Osei-Kuffour’s debut play about finding romance. But how long is she supposed to wait for it? And is there a right path to love? Love Steps goes through the ups and downs of modern dating, weaving the rush of new love with sadness and fading lust.
Told mainly in poetry and rhyming verse, the play is a series of snapshots into 34-year-old Anna’s (Sharon Rose) search for the one. She swipes through unsuitable bachelors on dating apps and gets let down by those who are intimidated by her success or want to move too fast too soon. As a black woman, she is constantly objectified and fetishised online by strangers. The pressure to settle down is drummed into her: family members ask her when it’s going to happen. Happily coupled-up friends tell her not to give up hope. And yet, she can’t help but feel defined by love’s absence. The dating game looks like a bleak, unnavigable battleground.
