Theatre503, London
A young woman loses her grip on reality in writer-performer Tanya-Loretta Dee’s unsettling monologue
At what point does infatuation tip over into something darker and more destructive? There’s actually a term for it – limerence – and this is the unsettling undercurrent of Tanya-Loretta Dee’s promising debut monologue, in which she also stars. There are very interesting ideas at play here, particularly to do with the fine line between sexual desire and something much wilder, more animalistic and untameable. But the production needs more fire and intensity. It unfolds at a slight distance and never quite pulls us deep inside this young woman’s fevered breakdown.
The story revolves around Bex, who works in a Peckham party shop by day and has an awful lot of sexual fantasies by night. Into Bex’s life walks James. With his middle-class wardrobe and middle-of-the-road job, James is from a different world. At first, he is Bex’s fantasy prince. But as their relationship fractures and warps, Bex’s fantasies turn in on her, separating her from real life and the people who care about her.
At Theatre503, London, until 29 November
