A young woman's descent into madness is a complex and unsettling phenomenon. Tanya-Loretta Dee's monologue, which she also stars in, raises intriguing questions about the thin line between desire and obsession. Bex, the protagonist, leads a double life: by day, she works in a Peckham party shop; by night, her fantasies run wild.
Enter James, an outsider from a more conventional world, who becomes Bex's fantasy prince. As their relationship frays, Bex's fantasies become increasingly distorted, drawing her further away from reality and the people around her. Dee's performance is notable for its intimacy, particularly in her witty asides that draw the audience into Bex's inner world.
However, the production falls short of its full potential due to James being reduced to a one-dimensional caricature, making it difficult to invest in Bex's suffocating infatuation. The script also seems overly controlled, with Dee never fully surrendering to the emotions she portrays. It is left to the set and lighting design – a barren wasteland created by Mydd Pharo – to create an eerie atmosphere that is not matched by the rest of the production.
Director Sophie Ellerby had the opportunity to delve deeper into the darkness beneath this script but chose not to. As a result, the show feels unfulfilled, with the intensity and fire required to bring Bex's story to life lacking. Despite its flaws, Dee's performance remains promising, and it will be interesting to see if she can build on this momentum in future projects.
The production runs at Theatre503 in London until November 29. While it may not be a wild ride, it is an unsettling exploration of the complexities of human desire.
Enter James, an outsider from a more conventional world, who becomes Bex's fantasy prince. As their relationship frays, Bex's fantasies become increasingly distorted, drawing her further away from reality and the people around her. Dee's performance is notable for its intimacy, particularly in her witty asides that draw the audience into Bex's inner world.
However, the production falls short of its full potential due to James being reduced to a one-dimensional caricature, making it difficult to invest in Bex's suffocating infatuation. The script also seems overly controlled, with Dee never fully surrendering to the emotions she portrays. It is left to the set and lighting design – a barren wasteland created by Mydd Pharo – to create an eerie atmosphere that is not matched by the rest of the production.
Director Sophie Ellerby had the opportunity to delve deeper into the darkness beneath this script but chose not to. As a result, the show feels unfulfilled, with the intensity and fire required to bring Bex's story to life lacking. Despite its flaws, Dee's performance remains promising, and it will be interesting to see if she can build on this momentum in future projects.
The production runs at Theatre503 in London until November 29. While it may not be a wild ride, it is an unsettling exploration of the complexities of human desire.
. I mean, on one hand, Tanya-Loretta Dee's performance is SO impressive, she really brings this dark and twisted world to life. But at the same time, it feels like James is just a prop to be used for Bex's fantasies, you know? It's like he's not even a real person, just a way for her to escape reality.
. I feel like it's trying to say some heavy stuff about desire and obsession, but it comes across as really shallow and controlled. The set design is definitely creepy though 
, but it can't make up for the rest of the production feeling so... unfinished.
. She's got some serious talent, and I'd love to see her take on a role that really allows her to shine. But overall, I think this show is more like a glimpse into Bex's twisted world than a fully fleshed-out exploration of human desire 
.
. It's like she's living two separate lives and we get to see that duality through her interactions. However, I felt like James was really underdeveloped - it was hard to care about his side of things 
. The set design and lighting were super eerie tho 
! Sophie Ellerby did a decent job with the atmosphere, but I wish she had explored the script more deeply 
!
her fantasy world is so fascinating but James just feels like a cardboard cutout 
. The set and lighting design are straight fire 
though, it's like they transported me to a whole different world! 
. Can't wait to see what she does next 
! Theatre503 better keep an eye on this talented actress 
. And don't even get me started on the script - it felt like they were trying too hard to control everything and it came across as super forced 
and Tanya-Loretta Dee's acting skills are on point but the director Sophie Ellerby kinda missed the mark for me 
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. And can we talk about the nostalgia factor for a sec? I'm pretty sure I've seen every single one of those retro posters from the 80s in thrift stores around London. Anyway, back to the article... I feel you, though. Sometimes it's hard to invest in characters when they're just not well-developed