BLIZZARD at the Soho Theatre
★★★★
“The plot is both completely mad, and entirely believable”
Emily Woof’s one woman show offers a truly unique view of the world, while still feeling universally observant.
The performer arrives on stage, mid anecdote. She tells a rambling, uncertain, but incredibly funny story. It’s like you’ve met her late into a drunken dinner party. Just as the audience are getting their heads around the naturalistic story style, the lights shift, pounding music plays and she is transformed through dance. Only for a beat. Then the story picks back up, as if uninterrupted. She is destabilising, charming and brilliant.
Dotty’s husband calls her Dotty. Dotty calls her husband Dotty. They love each other, have been ‘together forever’ but they don’t truly understand each other. As their marriage is tested, husband Dotty must confront the meaning of his life’s work and wife Dotty goes on an adventure which has her questioning the essence of self and purpose.
Woof’s script is evocatively told and created. At times uproarious, at times heart-breaking. It is intricately crafted to be rich with symbolism and metaphor, but doesn’t lose the characterisation at its heart.
The plot is both completely mad, and entirely believable. It deals with the little lives of little people but unpicks their absurdity to create a strange and whimsical tapestry of a life.
Hamish McColl’s direction is inspired. The more natural and stammering Dotty is, the more wild and free the physical theatre becomes. Sian Williams’ movement direction seamlessly blends with the hyper-realism of the monologue. The characters are all brought to life through studied and well executed physicalisation.
It’s a captivating performance from Woof. The character is emotionally complex and poignant. She is trapped in a small world, with a vast and peculiar worldview. Woof brings her to life, and makes us love her.
Andrew Croft’s lighting design and Theo Foley’s sound design brilliantly complement the shifts in the piece. There is no tonal imbalance, the stylistic transitions are seamless.
Ellie Wintor’s set is simple, but cleverly thought out to remain versatile. There is a beautiful moment with string, which I won’t spoil, but will stay with me.
Blizzard, for me, what theatre does best. It is strange and free but within the confines of a brilliantly designed story world. It explores an unusual woman, who somehow feels very familiar. And it’s incredibly funny. It loses itself a little in the second half, and the energy lags a bit as the style shifts, but it is definitely worth seeing, for Woof’s performance alone.
BLIZZARD at the Soho Theatre
Reviewed on 9th May 2024
by Auriol Reddaway
Photography by Viktor Erik Emanuel
Previously reviewed at this venue:
BOYS ON THE VERGE OF TEARS | ★★★★ | April 2024
SPENCER JONES: MAKING FRIENDS | ★★★★ | April 2024
DON’T. MAKE. TEA. | ★★★★★ | March 2024
PUDDLES PITY PARTY | ★★ | March 2024
LUCY AND FRIENDS | ★★★★★ | February 2024
AMUSEMENTS | ★★★★ | February 2024
WISH YOU WEREN’T HERE | ★★★ | February 2024
REPARATIONS | ★★★ | February 2024
SELF-RAISING | ★★★★★ | February 2024
FLIP! | ★★★★ | November 2023
BOY PARTS | ★★★★ | October 2023
BROWN BOYS SWIM | ★★★½ | October 2023
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