Angrove Laxeter, a shy and unassuming ‘30-something’ year old, lives at home with his widowed and domineering mother Ashleen.  Living in an ‘upper middle class’ suburb, Angrove works as an accountant, and in his spare time practices magic tricks. 

Afraid her son will never marry, Ashleen signs him up to the dating agency ‘Nature of Love’.  Roger Ranthorn, the oily proprietor, takes a personal interest in all his clients and views Angrove as a particular challenge.

A series of ‘dates’ ensue, held at the Laxeter’s home and overseen by Ashleen.  Angrove endures these mis-matches, coming alive only when performing his wholly unappreciated (and occasionally inappropriate) magic tricks.

Finally, after a succession of candidates (approved by Ashleen yet clearly unsuited to Angrove), Cherry arrives.  An instant connection is made, magic being a shared passion - Angrove has finally met his love match.  Ashleen however, is less than happy with his choice and tries to snuff out this romance before it has begun.

Emboldened by his feelings for Cherry, Angrove decides to take matters into his own hands, with extraordinary and magical results....

Style

Highly stylized, very much influenced by Magic Realism. Set in an indeterminate age but with the Art Deco ‘look’ of the 1930’s and 40’s.   Click here to see some visual inspiration

Visual References

Kind Hearts and Coronets, Brazil, Amalie, Ettore Scola’s Le Bal, The Marx Brothers, Miss Marple, Buñuel, Hitchcock