Daniel Abelson returns to the Orange Tree Theatre in In Praise of Love, a powerful drama by Terence Rattigan. The play runs from 24 May to 5 July and explores love, secrecy, and emotional resilience.
Set in 1970s England, the story follows a couple shaped by wartime experiences and personal deceptions. Abelson stars alongside Claire Price and Dominic Rowan in this emotionally charged production.
In Praise of Love opens on 3 June, with previews from 24 May. Performances run until 5 July. Book your tickets here.
You’re appearing in In Praise of Love at the Orange Tree – What can you tell us about the show?
It’s a Swiss watch of a play. It’s so brilliantly and beautifully put together. In short, it’s very much about truth, subterfuge, empathy, humanity, illness, death and love set over a 24-hour period in an Islington flat in the 1970s where much imbibing of intoxicating liquor also occurs!
You’ve performed at the Orange Tree before in Amsterdam. How does it feel to be back?
I’m thrilled to be back because returning to a venue I’ve worked at before gives me some sort of a sense of career! It’s a much-loved venue and the people who work here are all fantastic at what they do so it’s great to be working with them. It’s also a very special space to work in. Whilst the characters may or may not be hiding something from each other the performers have nowhere to hide and that is very exciting.
In Praise of Love explores themes of secrecy, love and truth. What resonates most with you about the story?
That the characters are so well drawn. Without spoiling the plot, these characters may or may not be carrying each of those themes as a burden or an alleviation…or both! It’s a really challenging piece for the characters but a very entertaining and emotional one for the audience.
How does this role compare to your past roles?
Funnily enough I’ve played writers before but none who were successful or recognised during the duration of the plays they were in. Mark Walters is the opposite of that, he’s a phenomenally successful, bestselling author and he lives accordingly. But like many at the top of their game he is little lonely and lost. He’s emotionally divided between the choices of others. That is so much fun to play.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see In Praise of Love?
You’ll get to see this most brilliantly constructed of pieces – where the drama unfolds in bursts and bouts of high tension, held or explosive emotion, accidental or intentional humour, politics, secrets, lies, love and possibly bad parenting – in a space so intimate it makes you part of the piece itself!
