Perry Doesn’t Love, Love, Love It.

I hope this RTC poster for Love, Love, Love goes through some revisions. I don’t like it at all. Intellectually, it may be smart in that it outlines themes in the play, but that’s an idea that won’t become obvious until after the theater-goer sees the play. See, here, for a good and on-going discussion, but as it is, to me it’s truly an eyesore.

My disappointment with the poster is not because there’s no image of Richard Armitage or his character, though in the play, I expect  there will be are several poses and costumes any of us would relish owning on a poster, even in silhouette or drawing form, and even with the addition of  Amy Ryan in character.  (I’ve read the play, and I’ve also looked at some stills from scenes of  previous productions.) I heartily agree that the RTC should consider printing a poster for Richard Armitage fans, if the company can think of way of overcoming the political ramifications of excluding other cast members. It can’t be that expensive a project, and theater posters go for around $ 20.00.

Even if not, they could start with adding some names to the off-putting example they’ve created. I would be much more likely to buy the poster, even though I don’t like it, if it had a credit for Richard Armitage, or even the entire cast. That his name is not on it, is a big drawback for me.

This piece of art offends my sense of design and color harmony. Part of it actually brings to mind vomit. For me, it’s too busy. The torn up look of the image confuses me, even though having read the play, I like to think that some of those paper tears look like portions of a world map. . I know when I see this from a distance, the color combinations are going to assault my senses. I don’t think the three words are even that easy to see. Sure, when one studies it, if we weren’t in mind of spoilers, there can have a vibrant analytical conversation. But as advertising, I think it’s awful.

Aesthetically, I like this one even less,  – that heart – really? But it contains some of what the RTC one is lacking, although it focuses unduly on only part of the play, and inaccurately, at that.  It doesn’t show a theme the way the RTC poster does.

This one from a touring production that played in Argentina, is even worse  ( but note the graphics on the actual title)- and let’s all pray that our Kenneth doesn’t show up with an Afro.

I kind of like this next one, which I think is from the original production, put on by Plainsplow – their 2011 Spring tour: (Yup, that’s our Margaret Hale)

 

I think of all three posters that attempted the colors and design of the earliest time period in the play  that would include the top third of our RTC poster), the original, above,  captures it best. It has a slightly more psychedelic, 60’s look than any of the others – it’s a riff on a Pucci print, – also used as a costume on a London production at The Royal Court.

©Elliott Franks

My taste always goes for the graphic, geometric – I like simple – so this one is the Love, Love, Love poster I currently like best, from a production in Bath:

I can’t figure out which came first, whether it’s the one above, or this one below –  which is not a theater poster, it’s a graphic for an epub book (+ script) of the play.