THEATRE- ‘Fireflies’ @ the Lowry, 20th October 2009, 4 stars

The stage meets the screen in Fireflies, Kevin Fagan’s latest play of serendipity and the search for genuine love. The audience follows the fateful twists and turns of two 30-somethings, set to the backdrop of the not-so-fabulous Salford. It’s a tale of two destined lovers who narrowly miss each other through the monotony of their everyday lives, apart from the odd taxi ride, where the characters engage in a heart-felt, but witty repartee. Fireflies explores the ways in which 21^st century singletons interact, from online dating to ‘fuck buddies’ to regrettable phone sex with your one nightstand.

Leigh, who has just come out of a messy divorce and claims love to be “a bag of shite”, complains about the insane people on her estate and her dream to live in Italy with the fireflies, who, she wistfully ponders, have very simple love lives and only have to find a mate who has the same glowing rhythm as their own. Leigh is played by Naomi Radcliffe and is most recognised for her role on Coronation Street. She has a rather sweet, venerable face, which makes the audience all the more surprised when she comes out with rather crude comments about her sex life and her desire to find the type of love that makes you get “that funny feeling in your fairy”. Parallel to Leigh’s story is Nelsons (Paul Sampson), a father who is struggling to control his off-the-rails teenage daughter. Paul Sampson’s portrayal of a down beat, yet oddly amiable, Manchester cabby is a poignant one, as his character is put through his paces in the play, making most of his scenes very intense, pulling the audience straight into the reality of the character.

Fireflies is a very unique production, using live acting, pre-recorded video and computer graphics to tell the story. The production emphasised the frailty of the human condition and the challenges that face us all every day. It wants to present the fact that we should never give up on our dreams or aspirations, successfully doing this while giving the spectators a few laughs along the way. Fireflies is a raw interpretation of Salford life and underlines the fact that we can be so wrapped up in our own lives that we clearly miss the things that are right in front of our eyes, even if these are just fireflies.