Set in 1940s New York, The Voice of the Turtle is evocative of the era, while at the same holding a mirror to the clandestine sexual revolution in wartime America. Written by John Van Druten (who adapted the Christopher Isherwood’s short stories about Berlin that became the basis of Cabaret) The Voice of the Turtle is a delightful throwback to yesteryear, yet not afraid to show the ‘less than romantic’ side of dating.

At the centre of this tale is Sally (Imogen Elliott), a young actress who following a break-up with a theatre producer, finds herself ‘resting between jobs’ and disavowing any sort of love life for the foreseeable future. Sally’s gregarious friend Olive (Skye Hallam) pays her a visit. Like Sally, Olive is also a rep actress, but doesn’t worry if she’s considered ‘promiscious’ by the standards of the day. Finding herself ‘double-booked’ for the weekend, Olive leaves Sergeant Bill Page (Nathan Ives-Moiba) in the care of Sally, who she reckons is a safe pair of hands – a ‘non-threat’.

But while Bill is no monk and has his own share of ‘lady friends’, not only does he and Sally have chemistry, time and time again he reveals hidden depths and that beyond the ‘defences’ that come with serial dating, what he hankers for is a deep connection with someone –with a person who feels the same way about what matters in life…

Casting is everything in romantic comedies and the three principal actors are excellent in their respective roles. If over the course of the play we root for Sally and hope she allows herself a chance to be happy again, worldly-wise Olive is perhaps closer to the life experience of the audience and has most of the funniest lines. Hallam is a natural at comedy. As for Ives-Moiba, he strikes the tender balance of being confident, cultured and a man of the world, yet not conceited about it – not an easy combination to realistically convey.

Anybody who goes to see this show will be thoroughly entertained with its pleasant blend of nostalgia, humour and candidness.

© Michael Davis 2024

The Voice of the Turtle runs at Jermyn Street Theatre until 20th July.