Reviews

Is it pop? Is it opera? Is it a game show? It’s all of these, and more, as cabaret performer Uma Dobia commands the stage in a wickedly revealing leotard, garnished with feather boa and a perky little hat. Dobia is disarming with the audience, has a show-stopping operatic voice and her transpositions of pop songs to operatic arias are both excellent and hilarious.

Years ago I walked out of a black comedy saying “I can’t believe we laughed at that!” Last night I couldn’t laugh. In fact, I didn’t even manage to smile, because, even though Legit Theatre’s Furious Mattress is an incredible production and theatrically stunning, it is also gut-wrenchingly visceral and chilling.

A large screen announces the ‘All-Hands’ meeting and our two presenters take the stage. James Schloeffel and Charles Firth thank everyone for coming, then attempt some fake small talk whilst others dial-in to the ‘Teams call’ or turn up late. Schloeffel and Firth must be used to latecomers, because they seamlessly blend their corporate patter with those unapologetically strolling in and looking for a seat ten minutes after the show started.

Alice is on the morning tram, observing her fellow passengers, colouring in their backgrounds – who they are, what they do. As she tells us about everyone else, it’s clear that there’s something that’s not being said. Eventually, performer Amelia Dunn admits it: she’s lost something. Her libido. It’s gone. She feels nothing down there.