A double-hander about a gory break-up might seem a little unexpected for Soho Theatre’s intimate upstairs space. But ardent fringe theatre reinvents the seemingly overdone very much like the heart can flush into glorious vitality once more.Summary
Rating
Unmissable!
At the risk of sounding either smug or pathetic, I have never had my heart broken. And, after witnessing the almost complete physical and emotional disintegration of friends, I am hoping to remain untouched. Acclaimed New Zealand company EBKM has its first touchdown in London after dazzling audiences at Rising Festival in Melbourne, the Edinburgh Fringe, and on a national tour back home – and boy, do these Kiwis know the sharp tang of love lost.
Karin McCracken, writer and lead, is such a vibe. Trendy mullet, coral lips, lilac suit with tassels AND rhinestones: ironic, bisexual, and hopelessly devoted to a man who doesn’t love her enough. Her voice is deep, darkly sardonic, with a rolling mix of New Zealand and Irish (mother’s side). I think I am a little in love. She is the glue in a very well-assembled piece of theatrical flat pack shipped across the seas.
Eleanor Bishop’s direction and McCracken’s writing and presence are so soothing. We are guided between the subsections of the piece with grace: never rushing, never jumping, never fluffing. They seamlessly work in synth covers of famous heartbreak songs (Celine Dion), slogging naturalistic break-up scenes, and poetic interaction with light displays – all slick and almost sensuous in a very sad way.
Lighting design by Filament Eleven 11 maintains a pinky, bluey, purply hue throughout, bouncing off the fluffy Barbie-esque carpet and McCracken’s suit. The lighting palette gives the show much of its visual continuity. Large LED strips flank the stage and even manage to transmit more than words: clouds, sunsets, some magical use of simple equipment. Simon Leary plays the male roles (gay bff and dreaded ex) with versatility and pared-back believability, even working in a dance sequence.
A personal highlight is the monologue-cum-TED Talk about the physiology of heartbreak. “Norepinephrine: BIG player in the body”, McCracken, wide-eyed, expounds to us. The hormonal barrage and ultimate hoodwink into the fight-or-flight response is a fresh, if intense, take on the subject. “We’re laughing and learning”, as my nan would say – or perhaps blubbering might be more appropriate.
We are guided through a monumental break-up featuring: sobbing, hypochondria, obsession, potential Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and a particularly miserable cover of Bon Iver’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ – if you know, you know. Yet slowly, almost unnoticed, the orbit of this woman’s life with this man’s, once intertwined, protracts and is released.
We are gifted a glimpse into another human’s mind. McCracken opens her brain as if it were a Valentine’s Day card, allowing everything to spill out in a glorious, pumping, fleshy mess, almost in slow motion. Speaking of uncomfortable metaphors, the end has one that doesn’t quite land, but by no means sullies what is an utterly devoted exploration of one of the worst experiences available to the modern human. Go if you have been heartbroken, go if you haven’t (yet), just go, go, go!
Written by Karin McCracken
Directed by Eleanor Bishop
Produced by Melanie Hamilton
Production & Lighting Design by: Filament Eleven 11
Sound Design by: Te Aihe Butler
Tour Operation by: Peter Davison
Heartbreak Hotel plays at Soho Theatre until Saturday 23 August.
