Strategic Love Play

De: Miriam Battye

Narrado por: Heléne Yorke, Michael Zegen

After matching online, two strangers—played by Heléne Yorke (The Other Two) and Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)—meet in real life. The vibe is off, and the conversation is a mess. Yet something is keeping them in their seats. What begins as a typical date off the apps spirals into something unexpected.

From Succession writer Miriam Battye and director Katie Posner comes the show that sold out theaters in London, took the Edinburgh Fringe by storm, and made its New York City debut Off-Broadway at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre. Strategic Love Play is an award-winning, razor-sharp “comedic tour de force” (The Guardian) that The Evening Standard calls “as gripping as a friend’s rapid-fire texts from a disastrous first date.”

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

©2025 Miriam Battye (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC

Wasted an hour of my life on this

The forced laughter was the worst. The performers did ok with what they had to work with but this story overall was just lacking. I kept hoping that it would pull together and instead it fell apart at the end.

Loved him. Hated her.

Being an investment of just an hour, it's certainly worth a listen. But don't expect much. An awkward first meeting through what I suppose was a dating app, between two very insecure people. I thought she bordered on psychotic, and he was insecure enough to stay engaged, rather than just getting up and leaving.

They exchange and explore their insecurities and failures in life, and while having "another drink" need to decide whether to continue this train wreck of a date. But like a train wreck they can't seem to pull their eyes away from, it drags on.

I kept wishing that he'd finally get up and join a pickleball group, and maybe meet someone nicer.

Directing class for 100, Alex

This is so very much university audition material and directing class material. I felt like I was listening to a ten minute play that directing students are required to do in all areas: acting, directing, and sound.

It is also harsh, abrasive, painful to the ears, and has that terrible chipmunk chuckle that audioplay directors won’t stop actors from doing. I love a good, old-fashioned, radio play. I love foley artist work. I did not love this.

It might be of use to a university student looking for audition material. Trite, but so for a reason.

So uncomfortably real

Wow I was riveted but tense the entire performance. It was a train wreck 1st date and you didn’t know whether you wanted it to pull into the station. Great characterization, dialogue and performances.

Very timely

Relevant to anyone experiencing the current climate of dating. Hit play without knowing where it was going, I was pleasantly surprised.

Reminded me of a piece by Dorothy Parker

I loved it until the last sentence and the then the last sentence was a big NO! :-(

Not bad for a quickie

It was not bad for a quick one hour listen when I needed to fill some time. I think it played off the Joel banter a bit.

Absolutely worth a listen

It was sweet and heartbreaking and extremely well acted, especially the female lead. Wanted more to be honest.

Surprised Me

I wasn’t sure where this was going and her voice was annoying at the beginning but I learned to love them both and the story was great! Loved their chemistry in the end.

Love it, want more

This was a really good plot and storyline, hoping there is more to come. The actors were on point and they made the story feel like I was watching a movie before me.