I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I saw For the Record Live’s Love Actually Live last year at The Wallis. The space, through previously used for other FTR shows, is much larger than when I first encountered their shows at what was then Barre at Vermont in Los Feliz.
Secondly, this wasn’t a performance of songs in the same way their other shows had been. This was a blend of the actual film with the stage performances of the songs.
Finally, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas wasn’t in the show and that was a key song in the movie.
But by the end of the performance, I found I had been just as swept up as I had been for their other shows. So was most of Los Angeles. Love Actually Live has just started performances again at The Wallis where it will run through December 29th.
If you don’t remember the film, here’s a look at the original trailer for it.
Since you’ll be watching the film and seeing live performances of the music and certain scenes, allow me to pair up the film’s cast with the show’s cast:
Tomasina Abate plays Karen, the role played in the film by Emma Thompson.
John Battagliese plays David, the role played by Hugh Grant.
Declan Bennett plays Jamie, the role played by Colin Firth.
James Byous plays Mark, the role played by Andrew Lincoln.
Gabriela Carrillo plays Aurelia, the role played by Lúcia Moniz.
Nayah Damasen plays Joanna, the role played by Olivia Olsen.
Rogelio Doulgas Jr plays Peter, the role played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Jon Robert Hall plays Daniel, the role played by Liam Neeson. (Chris Mann also plays Daniel but only for performances December 8th – 12th.)
Doug Kreeger plays Harry, the role played by Alan Rickman.
Ruby Lewis plays Juliet, the role played by Kiera Knightley and she also plays Mia, the role played by Heike Makatsch.
Carrie Manolakos plays Natalie, the role played by Martine McCutcheon.
Molly Rogers plays Judy, the role played by Joanna Page.
Aubrie Sellers plays Sarah, the role played by Laura Linney.
Levi Smith plays Sam, the role played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster.
Rex Smith plays Billy Mack, the role played by Bill Nighy.
Last year I did an interview with Rex Smith about Love Actually Live. If you didn’t check it out, you can read it here.
The soundtrack contains some great songs: The Trouble with Love Is, Jump (for My Love), Both Sides Now, God Only Knows, All You Need Is Love and Christmas Is All Around. Plus there is an original song written for this show called Love, Actually Is All Around.
As for that Mariah Carey song: When the show was produced last year Mariah Carey was the only songwriter who would not sign off on allowing her song (which she co-wrote with Walter Afanasieff) to be used.
Whether or not she relents this year, Love Actually Live will melt even the coldest of hearts this holiday season.
For tickets go here.
Photo of the 2018 company of Love Actually Live by Lawrence K. Ho/Courtesy of The Wallis