theSpace Triplex
Aug 8-10, 12-24
16:05
At the Triplex space venue in the tip of North Bridge I found a flying play titled ‘No no no Please no God no, never mind I’m fine’. The room there was boxy, two and three rows of chairs, and all else was simplified to black, and lit by a spotlight.
As Sarina Freda took a chair to centre stage, her energy buzzed through the room, and it soon became clear that her character had taken a certain journey involving LSD. At a fast, but jovial and easily flowing pace, the possible joys of transcending dimensions through using acid formed colourful introduction to an extremely astute play.
Sarina is an actor/writer/producer from NYC, and it was a thrill to see her tell this story – her dialogues lapping around the room with the physicality behind them. Her debut solo play is an epic act, lines fuzzying as her experiences worsened, but charming everyone and everything, swooping through the room and engaging us deeply. While walking every inch of the stage, she questioned the audience, responding with the same ease that she had us all under. Her way of describing moments came across as very distinctive, salutary and left us very clear upon each message and lesson.
Then all was anguish as beguiling voices thundered through the room, putting her to her knees, when in the moment of breaking she crouched, movement defeating her, cowering from the light and dark. She was young and fun, hopeful and lovely, but how much had she sacrificed to this drug? She soon made sure we knew just how big this experience had been, keeping our attention with a story that left nothing out. Along the way she assured us in our own insecurities, exposing everything that needed to be cut to the core so that overwhelming wounds would begin to heal.
We left very entertained and also quite befuddled, because what we had watched was a terrifying descent into utter madness, leading to doors hard to fit through, yet told with humour, tenacity and vigour. Ticking every theatrical box with vehemence and ease, we witnessed how LSD had changed the very course of her life, now and forever. An accomplished meaningful play from an actor effortlessly utilising all of her potential.
Daniel Donnelly
themumble.uk 