The Man on Her Mind is a subtle comedy exploring the reality of relationships against the imagination of the soul.
Set in the heart of Manhattan, Eleanor anxiously waits for her lover in her 32nd floor studio flat as she disgustedly deletes the countless voice messages of another suitor, Leonard.
Never knowing when boyfriend Jack will arrive, once the confident banker breezes into the room, the chemistry between the pair’s evident as they flirt over a glass of wine and he affectionately calls her ‘Nellie’.
Jack’s forced to hide in the bathroom as Janet, Eleanor’s older sister, pops by to get the gossip on her love life and quizzes her on why she’s not returned her neighbour’s calls.
Sibling rivalry is evident in the interaction; Janet wants to make Eleanor jealous of her ‘perfect’ suburban family life, mocking her sister’s tiny flat and sporadic lifestyle.
The scene then cuts to Leonard’s house.
A slightly nervous character, the audience sees the cluttered state of his mind with dozens of large boxes still waiting to be unpacked despite him moving in several months ago.
Janet and her husband Frank invite themselves in (he tends to leave it wide open) and do their best to find out more about their neighbour who they’ve already marked as Eleanor’s perfect match.
However, once the couple leave, Leonard’s girlfriend confidently strolls down the stairs.
And surprisingly, it’s Nellie, the imaginary concept of Eleanor.
Similarly, Leonard is the physical embodiment of the subconscious Jack.
Ironically, the real Eleanor hates the real Leonard, but somehow he’s manifested himself into her imagination as the perfect man Jack.
And Nellie has been formed from Eleanor, the girl Leonard desperately tried to call and hoped to date.
Once the imaginary Nellie and Jack meet, they play the part of guardian angels, willing their real selves to start a relationship.
And it’s only a matter of time before Eleanor drops her defences and gives Leonard a chance where they both discover they’re truly soul mates.
Written by Alan Hruska and directed by Bruce Guthrie, the pair have composed an original and enigmatic stage production at Charing Cross Theatre for the autumn.
Amy McAllister, who played both Nellie and Eleanor, was the standout actress, delivering a charismatic performance, adapting her persona to fit both the real and imaginary characters.
The themes of love and rivalry were wonderfully played out and the serious idea of what’s real and what’s imaginary was handled with a refreshing comedic twist.
The Man on Her Mind is showing at Charing Cross Theatre till 27 Oct 2012.