Belfast Actually – a festive rom com with three couples battling against the pull of their heart strings (Theatre At The Mill until 30 December)

Fancy a festive rom com? Then head down to Theatre At The Mill for Belfast Actually, written by Leesa Harker and directed by Andrea Montgomery.

In the run up to Christmas, you’ll meet country singer Gareth and his single and pregnant manager Minnie. He’s searching for a number one hit, but will he twig that he’s supporting the personal life of his number one fan as much as she’s building his musical career? Patrick McBrearty lets the accent rip and struts around the stage stumming his guitar, winking at the audience, and playing the crowd like a Gibson Hummingbird. If he was a chocolate bar, Gareth would eat himself. Christine Clark plays Minnie – with a gorgeous mellow solo in the second act, where has she been hiding that singing voice for all these years! – as well as a somnolent widow with a penchant for biscuits.

Then there’s Jill and Joe, both young and widowed. He pours his energy into running a grief support group, while she’s happy go lucky about everything except finding love again. Debra Hill goes full ditzy and works magic with the physical comedy opportunities in her roles, while Stefan Dunbar plays Joe as more hunky than vulnerable, much to the delight of the audience.

The final couple-in-waiting are a pair of political opposites on the campaign trail. Both MLAs, Molly’s a nationalist, while Billy’s a unionist. Will their ideologies nip in the bud the strong attraction they both feel. Can love really blossom across the Assembly chamber? It’s Rosie Barry’s third year in a row appearing in a Theatre At The Mill Christmas production. Her vocal talent is used to good effect throughout the show, with musical covers capturing the mood and decision points of the key characters.

David Craig’s set consists of a pile of oversized wrapped present boxes and a long steep ramp that the cast thankfully navigate without incident. Lucie Corcoran’s costumes are suitably brash for the season. Adam Gillian’s bright orange tie is a constant reminder of his political leanings and only a hint of a later costumer change. The flow between the scenes should tighten up as the run continues, and remove some of the jerkiness.

Belfast Actually is all about the entertainment, so Cupid’s elves making an appearance to help bind a dithering couple together doesn’t jar for a second. Leesa Harker throws in lots of one liners and sausage jokes that the cast ably deliver. “You can’t dander through Ikea hand in hand with a Turkey baster” will probably be the most unlikely piece of dialogue to feature in a local Christmas show this year.

If McBrearty has fun playing country star Gareth, he’s even more excitable as older widow Alison who is grieving the loss of her cat. Despite the levity, her reaction to a Secret Santa gift has emotional punch.

As you head back to the car or the train station, you’ll either be humming Potato Farl Heart or one of the Christmas hits the cast covered. The tuneful cast of six are clearly enjoying the show, and their verve infects the audience. Belfast Actually runs until Monday 30 December.

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