Review: 0800 Cupid, Soho Theatre

0800 Cupid tells the autobiographical tale of writer and performer Emer Dineen (She/They) as she tackles adult life, loss and loneliness, and the responsibilities that come with it. Irish born and London raised, Dineen dives into their oxymoronic state of life as their drag persona ‘0800 Cupid’, a campy matchmaking cherub with Grecian/Corkonian routes who takes up residence in London’s dingiest gay bar ‘Pinky’s’, and simply Emer, a young creative struggling with a myriad of issues from her dads worsening dementia to losing her job in a call centre and her girlfriend breaking up with her. With a volatile living space infested with bees and the unshakeable feeling of loneliness and existential dread, we watch Dineen stumble through recent events in their life with belly laughter and tears.

As the audience enters the theatre space, they are presented with an instrumental rendition of Donna Summers ‘I feel love’ played by the live band, built up of musical director and co-composer Tom Beech, drummer Michael McCarthy, and bassist Osazee Aiguokhian. These musicians provide a constant, allowing the musical elements to shine. Music, in the form of both originals and covers, is an integral contribution towards the overall brilliance of the show, and this ensemble ensures the success of it.

Beginning the show with a musical number from 0800 Cupid and their backing dancers, audiences experience a cold plunge into the campy, fast-paced, cabaret that this performance proves to being. The construction is perfect; quick cross-cutting between hilarious interactions between Dineen and their friends, tickling songs about love and life, deeply poignant moments of the struggle caring for an unwell family member, and the palpable feeling of being alone as a young creative in the world today. Both the writing and performance are exhilaratingly fresh and innovative, and I found myself laughing through tears, awe-stricken at the vivacious talent of each cast member, and overcome with the feeling of truly being able to identify with the content.

The staging remains consistent throughout, using three blocks which are manipulated to cultivate an array of locations, whilst a myriad of props and costumes provide laughs and help maintain the necessary fast pace. Set, costume and light design work in symphony to impressively deliver visual gags, starkly different emotional experiences, and a bee rave that has to be seen to be believed!

There’s a variety of colourful characters alongside Dineen, all presented by performers Isabel Adomakoh Young and Carl Harrison, who also provided the choreography. The list of roles undertaken by Adomakoh Young and Harrison is no mean feat, but both demonstrate absolute effortless and sublime comedic ability throughout. Very physically demanding roles, both performers dance, deliver and delight from the top of the show through to curtain call. Dineen, Adomakoh Young and Harrison come together in absolute harmony (singing and otherwise) to envelope the audience in joyous and side-splitting laughter, gut-wrenching reality and sadness, and a feeling of togetherness I have rarely seen replicated.

0800 Cupid is one of the most innovative and impressive productions I have seen grace the London stage for some time. I cannot recommend it enough!

Text, Composition and Lyrics by: Emer Dineen
Directed by: Phillip McMahon
Co-Composed and Musical Direction by: Tom Beech
Choreography by: Carl Harrison
Costume Design by: Lambdog1066
Lighting Design by: Sarah Jane Shiels
Set Design by: Ellen Kirk
Music Produced by: Elaine Mai
Produced by: Carla Rogers

0800 Cupid plays at Soho Theatre until 25 October. Further information and bookings available here.