Stage Kiss channels the rom-com genre for the stage and peels back the many layers to bring the real world ramifications of letting the heart guide the head.
Life begins to imitate art as two ex-lovers are brought back into each others lives as they rehearsals a 1930s melodrama. One stage kiss after another leads to rekindled love and misguided choices that have hilarious consequences.
Sarah Ruhl once again leans into her exquisite ability to weave multiple stories around the themes of love and identity. Ruhl has a keen eye for intimate detail and dialogue that not only sounds real but very directly allows each character to make a point. This script does, however, come off the rails in the unnecessary Act 2, making the entire second half of the work undermine the pace and intelligent whimsy of the first.
Alice Livingstone is perfectly talented to direct this production, delivering a masterclass on how to incorporate melodrama, heightened camp and deep emotional moments. Livingstone leans completely into the meta-drama of the work, winking to the audience with a knowing smirk as she peels back the theatrical in-jokes and allows the artifice of the hedonistic characters to shatter.
Emma Delle-Vedove gives an absolute stand-out performance, leading the ensemble with spot on comedic timing and scene stealing talent. Nicola Denton, Victoria Fowler, Lynden Jones, Nicholas Papademetriou, Frank Shanahan and Jason Spindlow round out the cast with each one bringing hilarious character choices and a wealth of emotional depth.
Merle Leuschner’s set design could be considered another character – with the level of detail further immersing the audience in the world of the work. Bianca De Nicola’s costumes and Holly Nesbitt’s lighting both highlight the melodrama of the script and each create playful tableaus that keep the production surprising and fresh.
Audiences are treated to yet another smash hit from the New Theatre with Stage Kiss and once again, maybe other companies should take a leaf out of their book and remember that sometimes a season of work doesn’t always have to be so dire.
Stage Kiss
New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown
Season continues to 11 April 2026
Information and Bookings: www.newtheatre.org.au
Images: New Theatre presents Stage Kiss – photos by Bob Seary
Review: Gavin Roach