THE HANGOVER REPORT – Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s FLEABAG is incendiary and as brilliant as they say it is

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in "Fleabag" at the SoHo Playhouse. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in “Fleabag” at the SoHo Playhouse. Photo by Joan Marcus.

This past weekend, I caught the revival of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s career-making Fleabag (the show inspired a hit television series, launching Ms. Waller-Bridge into stardom), which is only now making its American premiere. The hour-long production recently played to great acclaim at London’s Soho Theater and is currently in residence Off-Broadway at New York’s namesake equivalent, the intimate SoHo Playhouse. Although the show is sold out for the entirety of its run, a few last minute tickets may pop up on SoHo Playhouse’s website now and again.

Fleabag portrays a restless modern woman who can’t seem to get her life in order – her job, her various relationships (including one with her guinea pig), and her personal well-being all seem to be beyond her ability to fully control and healthily tend to. When things begin to look a bit desperate all-around and her life starts to unravel, she impulsively decides to take on London with reckless abandon, bringing herself to the edge. Vicky Jones directs the solo show with lazer-sharp focus and economy.

As for Ms. Waller-Bridge’s incendiary performance in her own sharply-written monologue, it’s as brilliant as they say it is. She brings compelling charisma to her self-destructive character, which has the effect of turning a metaphorical mirror to the audience – scarily, we see ourselves in Ms. Walker-Bridge’s transparent depiction of human behavior. In this capable actress’s hands, this woman is completely self-aware in her harmful tendencies, which makes her train wreck of an escapade and eventual downward spiral that much more unsettling and difficult to watch. Ms. Waller-Bridge is also a beautifully nuanced and skilled storyteller, which makes Fleabag not only wickedly funny but also surprisingly satisfying theater.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

FLEABAG
Off-Broadway, Play
SoHo Playhouse
1 hour, 5 minutes (without an intermission)
Through April 14

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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