by Zahid Fayyaz
Having beforehand created extremely acclaimed solo reveals within the final 12 months, buddies Frankie Thompson and Liv Ello have joined forces to provide a two-hander. Set within the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, the pair play survivors making an attempt to find out who they’re and the way they match into this new world. It is a transparent nod in direction of Waiting for Godot. However, this narrative may be very unfastened, and offers strategy to scenes which are each very humorous and transferring. These share the pair’s emotions in direction of society’s expectations on gender and the form of our bodies.
Using recorded footage, lip syncing, mime and sketch comedy, this present may be very humorous in some elements, and really emotional in others. Thompsons’ expertise of an consuming dysfunction and Ello’s of gender dysphoria are portrayed all through the present in a sympathetic and theatrically daring manner. Clips of Andrew Tate, Simon Cowell and actuality TV present sufferer Lena Zavaroni are used to construct up the image of a merciless society forcing conformity on people who find themselves not comfy with this. A shocking mash up of the Last Supper with a well-liked actuality present is among the highlights. Both Thompson and Ello give nice performances all through in what’s little doubt a really private piece of labor.
This is one other inventive hit from the Soho Theatre, who’re presenting an especially robust theatre
piece right here and in the remainder of their present season. This manufacturing is value watching now or on any subsequent tour the pair might undertake.
The Body Show runs by means of 14 October.
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