Sex Magick
Barons Court Theatre
Reviewed – 16th October 2018
★★★
“Whilst many of the scenes had humour and dramatic significance, it was the transitions between the worlds that felt most amateur”
This week, Barons Court Theatre is playing home to ‘Sex Magick’, an original piece by Natasha Zierhofer following Amelia, a young woman who hopelessly navigates the world of modern dating and sex. At her side for the journey are her promiscuous flat mate, her Jeff Goldblum lookalike crush, and a swindling vagina therapist who Amelia hopes will clear her “bad vagina energy”.
The creepy underground space which the Barons Court Theatre possesses perfectly suited a sex therapy shop, and indeed the scenes which took place here between Amelia and her sex therapist really brought out the comedic desperation that Amelia was living with. Common anxieties on dating and communication with the opposite sex were humourously turned into spiritual curses that could only be lifted through the ceremonious waving of a dildo!
Outside of the shop, the play moves from Amelia’s flat, to a coffee shop and a busy street corner. Whilst many of the scenes had humour and dramatic significance, it was the transitions between the worlds that felt most amateur. When the lights went down between scenes, you could really feel that we were stuck in an underground theatre, rather than moving from place to place with the characters. This could have been aided with a clearer change in lighting, or by transition music. The few scenes with transition music provided lovely moments of comedy and clarity as to where the story was heading.
The piece consisted of a strong ensemble, with all of the actors showing moments of good listening and comedic timing. It was a light hearted piece which, without trying to be polemic, was a clever allegory of modern dating. I would recommend for an enjoyable night in West London.
Reviewed by Edward Martin
Sex Magick
Barons Court Theatre until 20th October
Previously reviewed at this venue:
The Big Things | ★★½ | April 2018
Owls | ★★★ | July 2018
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