Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle – until 15th March 2025
Reviewed by Sandra Little
3***
Written by Tayla Kenyon and James Piercy and Directed by Danae Cambrook, this one woman performance at Alphabetti certainly covers a host of themes within this 70 minute performance by Tayla Kenyon. It touches on issues relating to dementia, mental health, alcohol abuse, bullying, low self esteem and teenage pregnancy.
The play is based around the journey, from birth to adulthood, of Fluff (Tayla Kenyon) and explores the consequences of the choices she makes along the way. This story does not have a simple chronological structure and there are aspects of the narrative which slowly unfold, allowing the audience to put together the storyline like the pieces of a jigsaw. This structure makes for an interesting experience and keeps the audience engaged.
Tayla Kenyon is convincing in this play and smoothly switches character with only a pair of spectacles and a party hat for props! The play is mainly delivered as a monologue from Fluff apart from times when she swaps roles and becomes her mother and also several other characters. Other aspects of the dialogue leave the audience to imagine who it is Fluff is conversing with as she develops “conversations” with people who enter her life at different times.
During the performance we learn that Fluff experiences significant difficulties in her teenage years but we can only assume that she overcomes these obstacles as we discover that she becomes a science teacher. Unfortunately her teaching career is not without incident and several significant issues arise!
There are numerous references throughout the play to Fluff’s father’s dementia and for me, one of the most poignant moments of this dark comedy occurs when Fluff tenderly places her father’s dressing gown on a chair and arranges his slippers. It is a very simple gesture, made with simple props, yet seems to illustrate the love she feels for her father. Conversely we learn of the tensions that exist between Fluff and her mother and at one point Fluff describes her mother as, “a pain in the arse.”
There is no doubt that this is a fast paced, gritty narrative that holds your attention, however I would have preferred to see some of the themes in the play explored in greater depth. My personal feeling is that there were too many important issues that were not developed to any great extent and some aspects of the storyline were unclear for me; I never did fathom the significance of the party hat! However, I do accept that it is difficult within a short piece such as this, to delve more deeply into themes such as teenage pregnancy or dementia.
This play is currently touring a range of theatres until mid April. It has won awards at Birmingham Fringe in 2023 and was voted Best Theatre Production at Buxton Fringe in 2024.