Ashlee Austin’s comedic and moving one-woman play explores the disconnect between children and adults through the perspective of a seemingly bitter woman who has a distain for toddlers.
Trapped in an origami class full of children and alone due to the late cancellation of her friend, the nameless protagonist of this show recounts her hilarious arguments with children in the present day and the key interactions that shaped who she was when she herself was a child. It’s a great concept, and much of the comedy comes from the brutally honest comments and rogue statements made by children who have not yet learnt the social etiquette of politeness.
The stage is littered with pieces of scrap paper and bits of origami which are utilised in visual story telling throughout the show. I found this to be very imaginative set design and really enjoyed how the theme of paper and origami linked all the elements of the play together, becoming a metaphor for the fragility of life and of our emotional states in the more emotive parts of the show.
Emma Judge gave an energetic and fun performance, and whilst some of the jokes were slightly repetitive – there are only so many times that it is funny for a child to say something out of pocket – Judge’s delivery was unwaveringly well executed.
At times during this show, I found myself wondering how each vignette and story fit together and questioning what the message of it all was. Yet by the end all the loose strings were tied up and a tear-jerking final revelation brought everything together, making it a cleverly written piece overall.
Full of laughs and maybe a few tears, Paper Cuts (and other small tragedies) is a thoroughly enjoyable show.
Paper Cuts (and other small tragedies) is running until 15 August at Studio at The Space at Niddry Street. Buy tickets here.
Image provided to The Student as press material.
