Mustard – Arcola Theatre

Mustard, both written and performed by Eva O’Connor, is a one-woman show about Eva, a young Irish woman escaping the religious trappings of rural Ireland to London to study art. On a night out clubbing she meets a ‘smoking area man’, and after going back to his and discovering he is a professional cyclist, he is then known only as The Cyclist.

O’Connor’s script is smart and zings, mustard being the only English ‘colonial’ item allowed in Eva’s home, lines about dipping Tayto and other moments leading to extra laughs from the knowing Irish in the audience. There are some lovely turns of phrase throughout including describing the caller id of her ex as ‘the letters and numbers that make him up’. O’Connor keeps the audience’s attention throughout, a focused and measured delivery with lyrical poetry and at times the script almost feeling like verse. Eva is captivating, it is surprisingly easy to feel for her even though we learn very little about her and her life. In this, she is defined by the broken relationship with The Cyclist and the damage she has as a result. It is little for the audience to go on, but it is a testament to script and performance that we go on anyway.

Mustard also touches on a lonely immigrant experience in London with no mention of any friends Eva has made or of anything she might really be doing. Just herself on her own in a night club and a random hook-up. When things go wrong with The Cyclist, there don’t appear to be friends to support or to look too. Places in London that are mentioned have their large size emphasised, the Elephant and Castle roundabout, the Cyclists’ ‘Crouch End Castle’ – a big and lonely city – far from rural Ireland. The contrast later of everyone back home knowing her business and being known in the corner shop is just one of many contrasts that Mustard’s script brings out, not being afraid to give new context to earlier points.

Eva repeatedly tells us that her mind goes to mustard, and mustard ends up playing a literal role. It’s left to the audience to interpret the surreal turns Eva takes and the methods of self-harm that she takes up in the aftermath of a broken relationship. The somewhat random items placed on stage come together in a striking scene and then moments of intense vulnerability. Credit is due to O’Connor for her dedication to her own performance and her ability to continue the monologue even while unselfconsciously stripped to her underwear and covered in mustard is impressive.

A smart script with an emotional core leaves the audience talking and pondering on the way home and makes for a rewarding evening.

Playing until 3rd June, https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/mustard/

Reviewer: Dave Smith

Reviewed: 17th May 2023

North West End UK Rating: