Previewed at Kinkfest, and sponsored by Prong fetishwear, this play explores the emotional path that leads to the S & M scene for one young woman. Three members of the audience are called upon to decide which way the action should go during the play; so the path may diverge on different nights. For example, Eloise is an abused child who moves onto a controlling relationship, and finds a sort of solution to this abuse of power as a dominatrix.
The play is an interesting attempt to explore the issues of power around sadomasochistic relationships; the cast are excellent, though hampered at times by a script that seems to feel ideas must be hammered home. The play uses physical theatre techniques to express the unspoken between the actors.
The audience participation doesn’t work completely as a theatrical device; without seeing the play more than once it is difficult to see where the audience decisions would lead to a different outcome.
Lucy Christy and Tom Jacobs play a great bored and point-scoring couple at the fetish club, and Karina Cornell as Eloise does justice to a demanding role, and does a very convincing coked-up clubber.
3/5
Morag Patterson
