Firstly, a trigger warning – When It Happens To You deals with issues of sexual assault and violence from the outset and throughout, and there’s nowhere to hide from it in this gutturally raw and confronting 90 minute performance. But Tawni O’Dell’s tale of a family dealing with the aftermath of tragedy is a tale of compassion, of surviving, and ultimately of love.
Told through a series of monologues interspersed with conversation, Amanda Abbingdon is our focal point as a mother struggling to support her daughter and her family in the wake of a terrible assault. The action unfolds from Abbingdon’s point of view, with her heartfelt performance moving the narrative from the night of the attack. Abbingdon is arresting – she has the audience hanging on her every word as she wrestles with her love for her children and her desperation to connect with them and fix them. O’Dell’s dialogue is at times heartbreaking and painful but is equally witty and sharp. The humour is tasteful and a welcome relief from the bleakness of the situation the characters are navigating, and the whole thing comes together beautifully in a performance that is totally mesmerising.
The rawness of the situation is mirrored by the staging and lighting, with the former pared back to virtually nothing and not a prop in sight. Set and costume designer Zahra Mansouri has created a sparsely beautiful backdrop that perfectly fits the action playing out on stage Rosie Day as daughter Esme is swamped with boots and baggy jeans that serve to make her look even more fragile, and from Day’s cries of distress in the opening minutes to her tale of gently bonding with her boyfriend’s niece she is perfectly cast in a challenging role. Miles Molan as brother Connor is an enjoyable all-American geek but shines as a loving brother and son, and Tok Stephen moves seamlessly through a range of accents to deliver a range of convincing characters.
While not an easy watch, the sensitive management of difficult subject matter mixed with flawless performances of a stellar script make this a must-see for me. The relatable humour and unrelenting compassion are to be commended, and I really can’t praise the cast enough for their performances. When It Happens To You is running throughout August and is a thoroughly excellent evening of theatre.
Reviewer: Zoe Meeres
Reviewed: 10th August 2024
North West End UK Rating: