A Harrowing Portrait of Pregnancy and Grief Unfolds in 'Guess How Much I Love You?'
The audience is handed a trigger warning before being ushered into the auditorium, a clear indication that Luke Norris's play tackles some very heavy themes. The result is a gut-wrenching portrait of pregnancy and grief, one that plumbs the depths of sorrow within a marriage without shying away from the brutal realities.
At its core, 'Guess How Much I Love You?' tells the story of a thirtysomething couple whose relationship seems to be forged in a sparky kind of contrariness. The woman (Rosie Sheehy) is clever and ferocious, always ready for a fight, while her partner (Robert Aramayo) tries to soften her edges with humor and poetry. Their dialogue is fast-paced and intense, akin to a contact sport, as they wait anxiously for the results of their 20-week ultrasound scan.
The news that follows is agonizingly painful, and Sheehy and Aramayo deliver explosive performances that perfectly capture the couple's desperation and anguish. The play's darkness is palpable, but it's also shot through with moments of humor and whimsy, making for a heart-wrenching emotional ride that will leave you breathless.
Norris, best known as an actor, has proven himself to be a talented playwright with 'Guess How Much I Love You?', a work that showcases his ability to tap into the complexities of human emotion. The play's direction by Jeremy Herrin is assured and confident, using blackouts between scenes to create a sense of unease and tension.
The set design by Grace Smart is nothing short of breathtaking, with its quick-changing scenery and dazzling lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun creating an atmosphere that is both disorienting and mesmerizing. It's a testament to the cast and crew that they can evoke such strong emotions from their audience, without resorting to sentimentality or cliché.
As the play hurtles towards its climax, it becomes increasingly clear that this is a story about love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that hold us together. 'Guess How Much I Love You?' may be a tear-jerker on the surface, but beneath that lies a work of profound depth and emotion, one that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
The audience is handed a trigger warning before being ushered into the auditorium, a clear indication that Luke Norris's play tackles some very heavy themes. The result is a gut-wrenching portrait of pregnancy and grief, one that plumbs the depths of sorrow within a marriage without shying away from the brutal realities.
At its core, 'Guess How Much I Love You?' tells the story of a thirtysomething couple whose relationship seems to be forged in a sparky kind of contrariness. The woman (Rosie Sheehy) is clever and ferocious, always ready for a fight, while her partner (Robert Aramayo) tries to soften her edges with humor and poetry. Their dialogue is fast-paced and intense, akin to a contact sport, as they wait anxiously for the results of their 20-week ultrasound scan.
The news that follows is agonizingly painful, and Sheehy and Aramayo deliver explosive performances that perfectly capture the couple's desperation and anguish. The play's darkness is palpable, but it's also shot through with moments of humor and whimsy, making for a heart-wrenching emotional ride that will leave you breathless.
Norris, best known as an actor, has proven himself to be a talented playwright with 'Guess How Much I Love You?', a work that showcases his ability to tap into the complexities of human emotion. The play's direction by Jeremy Herrin is assured and confident, using blackouts between scenes to create a sense of unease and tension.
The set design by Grace Smart is nothing short of breathtaking, with its quick-changing scenery and dazzling lighting by Jessica Hung Han Yun creating an atmosphere that is both disorienting and mesmerizing. It's a testament to the cast and crew that they can evoke such strong emotions from their audience, without resorting to sentimentality or cliché.
As the play hurtles towards its climax, it becomes increasingly clear that this is a story about love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that hold us together. 'Guess How Much I Love You?' may be a tear-jerker on the surface, but beneath that lies a work of profound depth and emotion, one that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
The way Luke Norris has woven together the complexities of pregnancy, grief, and love is truly remarkable. It's like he's holding up a mirror to the human experience, reflecting all our darkest and lightest moments at the same time 
And then the news hits... it's like, totally gut-wrenching 
And what does love even mean when it's faced with such uncertainty? 
As a parent, I can relate to the pain of losing a child, so this play hit way too close to home 
. Overall, it's a must-see for anyone who loves theatre 
. But be prepared to cry, 'cause trust me, you'll need tissues 
but seriously, the acting is insane especially the woman who plays rosie sheehy she's so intense i was on the edge of my seat the whole time and u know what the weirdest part is? its actually pretty relatable cuz even tho it's a super heavy topic, the play still manages to bring some humor to it 
. The set design was mind-blowing too! I mean, who knew blackouts could be so effective in creating tension? 
. I'm definitely going to remember this play for a long time 
the set design is insane tho! 
like what kind of magic did they use to create that transformation 
The way they portray the couple's emotions, especially during that 20-week ultrasound scan... *sniffles* I need a minute 
But seriously, the whole production is on point - the set design, lighting, direction... everything comes together to create this incredibly emotional experience. I love how it's not just a sappy romance, but also explores the complexities of human emotion and relationships. And can we talk about the performances? Rosie Sheehy and Robert Aramayo are absolute perfection 
I'm still reeling from the ending... I think I need to go get a tissue 
the set design is insane too!!! 
20 weeks pregnant & they're basically running on coffee fumes 
anyway, if u haven't seen this play yet, u need to get tickets ASAP!!! 
trust me u won't regret it
. I loved how the couple's relationship was depicted as this beautiful mess of love and annoyance 
rosie sheehy and robert aramayo are absolute genius, their chemistry is undeniable 
anyway, if you haven't seen this play yet, do yourself a favor and grab some tissues because this one will tug at your heartstrings 
.
A study found that women who experienced anxiety during pregnancy were more likely to have a postpartum depressive episode (45% vs. 15%). 
And the set design? Mind. Blown. 
I was literally crying throughout the whole play (don't judge me 
. Did you know that anxiety during pregnancy affects up to 75% of women 
per year, on average 
. Guess How Much I Love You? shows us that grief & love aren't mutually exclusive 
. But what about the partners left behind? A study found that men are just as affected by pregnancy loss as women 
1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage