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Thistle and Rose deliver another production which demonstrates they have plenty to offer, with a message that is never forced upon us, and yet has a power that gives the show a real edge. Summary
Rating
Excellent
OSO Arts Centre is a strange (but lovely) venue. Situated in leafy Barnes, in comparison to most fringe venues here I don’t feel like I could be the oldest in the audience! Which is no bad thing, but to develop it into a vital fringe theatre, they do need to attract a younger audience alongside us old’uns. Programming shows like Thistle and Rose’s Beneath A Cups is a step in the right direction.
The plot is simple enough. Stacy (played by writer Kat Stidston) works alongside friend Mary (Giulia Hallworth) on a sexual health helpline. Which is rather ironic given she’s a virgin, held back by body dysmorphia. Following a rather awkward date/ not date, she somehow finds the courage to give her phone number to the Italian waiter, who she is sure will be the one to… well, you know. Except things don’t go exactly as hoped.
Beneath A Cups successfully follows a similar style to their previous work, Post Sex Spagbol, but whilst you can spot the commonality between the plays, it still retains a freshness of its own. Things roll along at an incredible pace under Katie Bignell’s directing debut, with no moment wasted. Scene changes flow evenly, the two actors moving furniture and props around with a stylish flourish. They also make great use of the simple set: with the addition of phones or cushions we’re instantly at the helpline, the restaurant for that awkward not-date, or the waiter’s flat with his ginger cat staring at her.
Stidston gives a wonderfully awkward performance as Stacy, her discomfort in her own body obvious. Alongside her, Hallworth makes a superb effort multi-roling the supporting cast, donning shirts or hats to easily differentiate each role. Her Italian waiter is an absolute scene-stealer, whilst as Mary she finds good balance between being supportive friend and hilariously over-confident, in stark contrast to Stacy. Her despair as she explains that a former boyfriend dumped her and not the other way around is delivered with real shock that such a thing is even possible.
But it’s perhaps in Stidston’s writing that this show really excels. Scenes pause midpoint to allow Stidston to break the fourth wall (making no secret of Miranda Hart and Fleabag influences), addressing the audience directly with her inner thoughts which vary between comical and just downright smutty. Her asides as she gives hand relief to the waiter do put a rather different viewpoint on the moment. More importantly, this style perfectly allows for the more serious moments as she finally addresses the elephant in the room; her embarrassment at her own body. She is utterly convincing as she despairs that no one will ever be attracted to her, especially when her bra reveals the secrets beneath, a reference back to the show’s title. This message is so beautifully slipped in amongst the fast-paced comic moments that when it does come it becomes more powerful, finally revealing what is hidden behind the humour.
Beneath A Cups is fresh and exciting, delivering a vital message with impressive force. Come the end Stacy clearly has a way to go to overcome her body dysmorphia, but it feels as if massive steps have been taken, leaving us on a very positive note. It’s a message that has genuine importance; the type of show that deserves a young audience, for whom this story could hold real significance, in an era where body shaming is commonplace. And as for bringing the production to this lovely Barnes venue, well, it’s a great piece of programming that will surely help attract a whole new clientele, maybe bringing that average age down by a decade or two!
Written by: Kat Stidston
Directed by: Katie Bignell
Technical by: Sarah Moffatt
Produced by: Thistle and Rose
Beneath A Cups has completed its current run. Follow Thistle and Rose on Twitter here to keep up to date with future work.
