Review: Wyld Woman: The Legend of Shy Girl, Southwark Playhouse

Southwark Playhouse Borough’s The Little has been transformed into an apartment in New York City, decked out generously in pink decorations and balloons. Before the show begins, it’s evident that the fourth wall doesn’t exist here. Each audience member wears a name label, four people are asked at random to sit at the kitchen table for the 65 minute piece, while others sit on a sofa just a few feet from centre stage. 

Writer and performer Isabel Renner’s titular Shy Girl has acute social anxiety, the kind that makes forming friendships difficult. With no social life, romantic partner or experience in these areas to speak of, her desire for love and connection has triggered a newfound determination to become a “legend”, or cool (defined by Shy Girl as smoking cigarettes, having sex and doing what you want) and master the things she has always wanted to do. As a young woman in a bustling city, where the opportunities are endless and the dating pool is vast, why shouldn’t she enjoy it like everyone else?

Shy Girl, stressed about hosting her new friends, contacts her ‘therapist’ Shelly (later startlingly revealed to not be who she appears), before walking us through recent events. Working part time at a high-end French restaurant and celebrity hotspot (mainly English rockstars), Shy Girl sets her sights on fellow server Pino, a Reddit and finger-gun enthusiast, deciding to pursue him. What ensues is a collection of awkward encounters including a visit to a German gynaecologist, with terrible advice after a first, painful, sexual experience with Pino, and a blowjob ballet – a hilarious surprise, perfectly executed by Renner with humour and poise. She encounters tough lessons along the way, finding and learning to love herself as she goes.   

Cameron King has solidified Renner’s work as a captivating and compelling solo show with superb direction, vision and use of props. The space enables different levels, with Shy Girl often sat on the fridge and counter. Movement choices are nicely varied and pacing is also consistent. 

Design-wise, all elements feel aligned with the overall vision. Lucy Fowler’s detailed and aesthetically pleasing set fits the energy of this show whilst her design of Shy Girl’s glittering silver top and tutu is a lot of fun. Colourful mood lighting, designed by Catja Hamilton, flows along well with the quick scene changes. 

Throughout, Renner references audience members by name mid-sentence – a very humorous form of audience participation. Able to embody different characters seamlessly, she maintains the fast pace. Each character has a distinct physicality, all slightly unhinged and entertaining; her cool and sexually free flatmate Memphis, her perpetually annoyed boss Patrice, a ‘wyld woman’ sex therapist with a bonkers, memorable monologue. Renner excellently embodies Shy Girl’s hyper self-awareness mixed with naivety and innocence; the sense of impending doom comes in waves, anxiety peaking at the conclusion of her situationship with Pino. Running jokes like confusing vegan for virgin and vice versa, to a Ratatouille reference with a great payoff, balance well with tear-jerking moments in which she faces her loneliness and how it has held her back. 

Renner has created an outstanding and incredibly funny presentation of the life of a loner who, alongside dealing with anxiety-related challenges, is on a path of self-discovery and growth. Shyness is an interesting topic to explore, and Renner’s impressive writing and performance along with King’s inspired directorial vision makes this show a truly enjoyable theatrical experience full of memorable scenes and quick-witted humour. Truly worthy of the post Fringe hype, and some.

Written byIsabel Renner
Directed by Cameron King
Lighting Design by Catja Hamilton
Set and Costume Design by Lucy Fowler
Sound Design by Sasha Howe
Produced by Catherine Schreiber

Wyld Woman: The Legend of Shy Girl is on at the Southwark Playhouse Borough until Saturday 15 November.