Soho Theatre
Date: 3 June (Monday), 7:00pm
Seats: Balcony, Row Z 9-10
(Seen with Jess!)
Notes: This show was another recommended show that I heard about on the Theatre Club podcast, and it really piqued my interest. I knew who Jessie Cave was, but only through the same way most people do - as Lavender Brown in Harry Potter. She was great in this, but it was only briefly mentioned in this show.
This show is much more about her current life - still trying to get back with her ex-boyfriend and the father of her two children, while also being anxious and worried and trying to date and move on and be a regular person. It does sound hard, but she had a really great way of harnessing the funny side. She talked very frankly about sex, nursing and her life and I really appreciated the brutal honesty she had towards others, but mostly towards herself.
While this is a one woman show, it's quite cleverly done. Jessie incorporates conversations with her ex and the other guy she dates by holding up pillows, which have drawings of their faces quilted onto them. These were even apparently made by her mum! She has a clever way of then being able to "hold a conversation" with them.
One thing that was quite surprising about this show was the length. I guess I'm used to full plays, musicals and casts of at least several people, but this was only an hour! In fact this was the perfect length because you literally didn't have time to get bored. Plus it's quite a lot for someone on their own to do more than this. It was refreshing going to the theatre and being done by just after 8pm though...
Jessie has a really interesting personality and outlook on life. She frequently reminded me of me in a lot of ways - not the kids or the relationships, but in her awkwardness, anxiety, worries about not being productive enough, pretty enough... Enough. I think it really gets to the heart of who she is, and she's a lot like the rest of us. Only she's brave enough to get up on stage and talk about it!
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