Review: Wakaresaseya or How to End Things, Courtyard Theatre

Within the first ten minutes, you’d be forgiven for thinking Wakaresaseya or How to End Things at the Courtyard Theatre is a standard flatshare drama. Mia (Moana Doll) discovers her boyfriend Iago (Pablo Laguna) has invited mysterious new flatmate Seb (Shelton Wong) to move in without consultation – raising the immediate question of “Who does that?” What follows is BuildingRockets Theatre Company‘s exploration of modern relationships, which works best when embracing its comedic instincts.

The premise unfolds over 45 minutes as we witness how spectacularly dysfunctional three people can become. Mia and Iago are hiding things from each other that would make any relationship implode, and that’s nothing compared to what Seb hides in his closet. The revelation about Seb’s OnlyFans income initially hints at deeper commentary on sex work and authentic connection, but the production uses this more as a launching pad for increasingly outrageous situations.

Wakaresaseya attempts to balance sincere relationship drama with dark comedy, achieving mixed results. When leaning into absurdity, the show feels genuinely entertaining – moments of dysfunction that wouldn’t be out of place in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. However, the script’s attempts at emotional depth don’t land as convincingly. Themes of loss, longing, and belonging receive surface treatment rather than meaningful exploration, and several plot twists lack sufficient buildup to carry their intended weight.

The trio navigate this tonal juggling act with reasonable success. The cast excels when serving the material’s comedic elements, delivering the more intense moments with commitment that makes the madness work. Their chemistry proves strongest during the show’s wilder exchanges, though quieter scenes aiming for emotion feel less assured.

Set design functions adequately without making strong impressions. Back wall projections remain unclear for most of the runtime, though there’s one absolutely delightful scene where they showcase Seb’s delusions through black-and-white film pastiche when Mia confronts him with “What did you think would happen?” This moment demonstrates the production’s potential for clever staging choices.

Technical elements prove less successful. Strobe lighting for scene transitions feels mismatched with the show’s atmosphere and contributed to a brief technical pause that disrupted momentum.

While Wakaresaseya doesn’t always succeed in its dramatic ambitions, it delivers when the audience embraces its essential silliness. The show rewards patience with increasing absurdity that transforms potential weaknesses into laughs. It’s a solid production that knows its strengths and has plenty of space to improve.

Written, directed and produced by: BuildingRockets Theatre Company

Wakaresaseya or How to End Things has completed its run at Camden Fringe.