The Wasp – Trafalgar Studios until 16th January 2016

★★★★★

Review by Caroline Hanks-Farmer

New writing as many of my regular readers will know is my passion which I seek to support and champion at every opportunity. This second consecutive transfer into the Trafalgar Studios from Hampstead was eagerly anticipated by me and as I took to my seat I could already feel it was going to be something rather special.

Photo credit Ikin Yum

A coffee shop frontage with Myanna Buring who plays Carla greets us. Buring is sat smoking, obviously waiting for someone. You immediately feel life so far has not been “a walk in the park” for Buring. Heavily pregnant, the angst, possibly nervousness and worry effuses from her and all this before even the lights have gone down.

This two-hander is about once school friends, where one turned in year seven, and became an evil bully to the other, making her life a misery with two defining incidences that we learn change one of them forever.

Photo credit Ikin Yum

Enter Laura Donnelly who plays Heather, as much as life has been hard on Buring the opposite seems to be evident in Donnelly. Looking well Dressed and high- flying although appearing anxious at seeing her once friend and it soon becomes abundantly clear as to why this would be. Their story unfolds and we hear of how Buring’s character bullied Donnelly, without remorse until one school disco night when a horrific act seems to be the pinnacle and the bullying stops. However the actions may have stopped but this has shaped Donnelly’s life forever with the emotional and psychological scars left behind. The play moves into Donnelly’s home and as it progresses you begin to wonder is this the ultimate revenge scenario?

Photo credit Ikin Yum

Both Donnelly and Buring are utterly superb, faultlessly mesmerising throughout and I couldn’t even begin to describe how their acting left me speechless with all the twists and turns in emotions. They really did take you through on a journey, making you feel like you were with them at every step. Let’s not forget though that their incredible acting came from someone writing this story. The writer in this case was Morgan Lloyd Malcolm. This excitingly excellent thriller had me gripped right until the dramatic end. Such a powerful conversational play that challenges thoughts in an exceptional way, really should be championed and supported. My anticipation was right and I implore you to go and see this play before it closes on the 16th January.

The Wasp – Trafalgar Studios until 16th January 2016

★★★★★

Review by Caroline Hanks-Farmer