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A tantric journey of sexual exploration with darkness lying beneath the surface.Summary
Rating
Excellent
What is a ‘unicorn’, you may ask? This is the name given to single women willing to participate in group sex, so called for their almost mythical rarity. This production details the journey of Andrea (Alice Lamb) from the doldrums of singledom and unemployment to the radical underground culture of kink and group sex. Seeking hits of dopamine to get her out of a depression, Andrea discovers a world that leaves her wanting more, to the point of unhealthy obsession.
Lamb is a powerhouse performer with an uncanny ability to switch between characters – her questionable ex, her bothersome if well-intentioned friend, or any number of dubious men from dating apps. She has a dazzling stage presence, and in the small space of the Arcola Theatre, she pushes the intimate nature of the setting to its limits with cheeky eye contact, sensual breath work, and jokes delivered directly to audience members. There are laughs to boot with the contrast between quintessentially British pleasantries and the lexicon of lust; wonderfully silly elements such as this render the play touching and human. Lamb’s naturalistic tone feels as if she’s debriefing with a friend after a chaotic night out, and we are invited onto this rollercoaster of a journey.
Tom Brennan’s direction is sharp on all counts, elevating every aspect from meticulous performance through to design. Sound and lighting are masterfully executed, with clean transitions between settings; a feat that can be particularly hard to accomplish in a solo show with minimal staging. We see the stark contrast between raunchy nights and the cold, hard reality of the morning after. A particularly enjoyable trick is the use of different mic settings to voice various characters, spanning from a flirtatious Italian lover to a deeply confused 4-year-old up past their bedtime. Lamb does not miss a beat in her delivery, and her high energy throughout makes for a tantalising, emotive, and highly compelling performance.
Sam Potter’s script conveys a gripping story that is taboo and challenging, with believable narrative progression. Andrea’s off-hand comments, wondering how she ended up in London’s lusty underbelly, make it easy to bridge the idea of the outrageously kinky “unicorn” with your friend who can’t help but pull on a night out. Using vivid descriptions of the bodies and spaces she encounters, the audience is made to understand the fascination of this world and the draw of deeper and darker extremes. Andrea is a complex, troubled, but ultimately sympathetic character who both finds and loses herself, and this comes to a heartbreaking climax towards the end of the show.
The Unicorn tells of a compelling personal journey steeped in shadowy subculture and tackling a spectrum of love, lust, loss, and trauma. Having expected a fun night of raunchy jokes, I was a little surprised at how moving the play proved to be. Visceral and tantalising, this is a no-holds-barred sex-positive show that will have you cackling while on the edge of your seat. Bring your friends – maybe even bring a Tinder date. But perhaps don’t invite your nan.
Written by Sam Potter
Directed by Tom Brennan
Produced by: Nina Productions
The Unicorn plays at Arcola Theatre until 24 June. Further information and bookings can be found here.
