Love that begins with a mosquito bite slap.

A nameless pair (played by Danette Potgieter and Yarno Rohling) meet at a house party in Inner West Sydney. They head up to the rooftop, caught in the intoxicating early stages of attraction It’s that beginning stage of a relationship – innocent flirting, teasing, and the anticipation of who will make the first move.

Their connection deepens, moving from playful courtship to infatuation. The honeymoon phase when you put the other person on a pedestal. When everything they do is wonderous, from the way they type to the way they read. “When you’re in love your entire life changes direction. The orbit of your life shifts.”

Everything is perfect. Until it’s not.

The shift is subtle at first. We see it in the change of tone, the same question answered with a sharper edge. Lingering glances turn to looks of distain. Moments that once sparked joy now result in irritation.

Directed by Kirsty Semaan, the story unfolds through a series of flashbacks that explore the dynamics of the relationship. Lighting Designer Jasmin Borsovszky skillfully employs blackouts to mark scene transitions, while strategic spotlights highlight key characters, guiding the audience’s attention with precision.

Australian playwright Laura Lethlean’s script is purposefully repetitive. Set against the backdrop of a recurring party in an inner-city townhouse, the lovers repeatedly return to the place where they first met – each time with shifting emotions. Lethlean crafts the play to accentuate these gradual changes, her writing beautifully poetic and evocative. At times, she shifts the characters into the first person, allowing them to address the audience directly, offering intimate, detailed accounts of their feelings and actions.

The play opens with three characters, with the central couple driving the story, while the identity of the third presence (Lisa Hanssens) remains a mystery. One could guess who the third presence represents but in the play this character questions the couple individually, asking them to explain their reasoning and decisions.

Set designer Jason Lowe has created a minimal almost bare stage, made up of a three-tiered wooden stage and a frosted window, which keeps the focus squarely on the actors.

Although the play is beautifully written and performed with heart by the cast, it lacks a strong emotional pull. It’s a familiar story about young love that fades, but the reasons behind the couple’s disconnection remain unclear, making it difficult to fully invest in their journey.

That said, Two Hearts will resonate with romantics, as it evokes feelings of young love, deep conversation and the nostalgia of that special someone you once knew. It is a raw and poignant exploration of love, fleeting moments, and the life defining choices that shape us.

3 stars.

Presented by Space Jump Theatre company, Two Hearts is playing at Marrickville’s Flight Path Theatre until 29 March 2025. 

For tickets visit: https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/two-hearts