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One hundred people’s ninth favourite thing: [title of show] @swkplay

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[title of show] takes you back to a time before the fast paced social media where word of mouth for a positive show came from chat boards, video diaries or (god forbid) blogs. A simple staging makes it an ideal (and economical piece to stage), but it’s sweet and earnest take on just putting on a show, and putting it out there and taking a chance gives this show its heart. With a strong and energetic cast and endless musical theatre references, it’s hard to resist and it’s currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse .  It opens with Hunter (Jacob Fowler) and Jeff (Thomas Oxley) as struggling young writers in New York City. An upcoming New York Musical Theatre festival, inspires them to write an original musical within three weeks to make the deadline. As they discuss ideas, writers block, distractions and endless other good and bad musicals, an idea for a show emerges. Which is about writing a show for a musical theatre festival.  Their friends Heidi (Abbie Budden) and Susan (Mary Moor

Taking the moral high ground: Super Duper Close Up @Yardtheatre

In Super Duper Close Up, Jess Latowicki is seven minutes early to a meeting. It’s a meeting that could give her work. I never arrive early to meetings so I figured this is a chance to find out what early arrivers do to pass the time. During this time, between taking the moral high ground for arriving early, she starts talking about her life and where it’s gone all wrong. It’s theatre we can all relate to. Funny, moving and often bizarre, it’s currently playing at The Yard Theatre.

Latowicki with her robotic-like rapid fire delivery often feels like she’s a stand up comedian talking about her life. She gives phrases like “think pieces” and “scrolling” specific hand gestures so that they stick in your mind.

Everything is filmed and projected. It’s like you’re trapped inside in an Instagram story or someone’s live feed on social media. At one point she moves into the audience. Then she takes someone to show her detailed beauty regime. A regime that’s described in French as it sounds more convincing.

As the monologue progresses, and she continues to wait for her meeting, fragments of her life enter her mind. Soon her moral high ground for being early and knowledge of Botox and dermabrasion gives way to darker thoughts. She worries about her next freelance job, whether she is sick. Or is she beautiful enough? And does her strong opinions and moral high ground make her palatable enough in today’s market. Whatever that market might be.

For most of the piece Latowicki is in a satin green dress. She wears it like a suit of armour. And with a set that consists of a furry pink rug, disco ball and a glitter curtain it gives a bizarre otherworldly appearance.

Created and performed by Jess Latowicki, Super Duper Close Up is at the Yard Theatre until 24 November.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by John Hunter

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