2016’s theater season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with three plays that explore the theme of love—in different ways, of course. There’s Grind, which follows the different stories of homosexual men in Singapore, The Effect, where two people on a drug trial become increasingly attracted to each other as the experiment progresses, and of course, the staging of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. Check them out.
The Effect (Feb 25-Mar 13)
This year’s first Pangdemonium production is all about how the brain affects the heart. In it, a psychology student Connie and slacker Tristan participate in a clinical experiement, only to find themselves getting attracted to each other as the daily dose of the drug they take increases. Written by Lucy Prebble, this play also won the UK Critic’s Circle Award for Best New Play. Victoria Theatre, $165
Grind (Mar 24-Apr 2)
Toy Factory‘s latest production is part interactive play (hello, breaking the fourth wall) and performance art installation. Written and directed by Goh Boon Teck, the production follows four men, with Long, a successful man who frowns upon the “gay lifestyle,” Pang, whose relationship with his sister is changing, Gan, who struggles with his faith, and Tian, who denies that he’s gay. The play also tackles the the themes of love, lust and family, and how these individuals negotiate their identities in sunny Singapore. Drama Centre Black Box Theatre, $42
Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo and Juliet (Apr 27-May 22)
SRT is bringing Shakespeare in the Park back for another year, this time, with one of the Bard’s most popular plays, Romeo and Juliet, albeit set in a modern dystopia. You know the story; the Montagues and Capulets are feuding families, and the playboy Romeo falls in love with the Capulet, Juliet. Chaos ensues, with Mercutio bringing in the laughs, as usual. Go picnic with your intellectual bae and have a discussion about whether Romeo and Juliet really love each other. Fort Canning Park, $40-85.
