The Things I Did While Waiting For You To Fall Back In Love With Me is new dark comedy play by Sarah Hogewood, following her break-up and subsequent melt down across New York City (we’ve all been there).
Filled with good ideas, but still finding its feet, the one woman show shut out the audience slightly in the first third with unclear/ under confident character switching, a jarring voice-over and slow pacing. This could have been helped with a two-person cast for all the various side characters she speaks with, a more versatile costume, or perhaps just a larger fringe stage for more immersive setting and movement.
Despite this, the detail and embarrassment of her storytelling keeps it relatable and lighthearted. As her monologue moves into the second and third act, the story becomes far more concrete and less disparate, really engaging the audience, moving on from world building and into the good stuff: grief, drugs, and hell.
A perfectly placed bit of audience participation no longer isolates the viewer in her discomfort but charms ands brings us along with Hogewood to laugh, cry and be seen. The audience learn about the universality of heartbreak, LGTBQ+ identity, anxiety and pain, although it is funny I promise. Simple lighting and voice-overs help weave context throughout the show and leave the ending on a sobering but beautiful note.
The Things I Did While Waiting For You To Fall Back In Love With Me is on at Greenside @ Riddles Court – Clover Studio, 5-10 Aug. Tickets available here.
Image provided to The Student as press material.
