LADY DEALER - REVIEW - BUSH THEATRE

Lady Dealer, the latest play by award-winning playwright Martha Watson Allpress, explores the life of a female drug dealer called Charly. The play, which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, and now makes its London debut at the Bush Theatre, is an intimate and introspective journey into Charly’s tumultuous world.

Charly’s life is a monotonous cycle of dealing drugs and coping with the remnants of a past relationship. She tells the audience that she thrives in her role as a drug dealer, finding purpose and identity in a job that requires confidence and detachment. She runs on 110% caffeine. Runs away, that is. When a sudden power cut causes her phones – her lifelines – to go silent for a while, it forces her to confront her solitude and the emotional void left by her breakup with her ex, Clo (which she is definitely over… not), the perceived disappointment of her mother, and the anxiety an incident at a 16th birthday part left her with. The play deftly navigates Charly’s inner monologues, revealing her vulnerability and yearning for genuine connection.

The production’s design by Jasmine Araujo, transports us to Charly’s South London, cleverly using the limited space of the Bush Theatre’s studio with large concert speakers that outline the confinement of Charly’s flat. The speakers are transformed to hold hidden compartments for the detritus of Charly’s daily life, a coffee mug (because who the f** are you without your coffee), fairy lights, and a yellow sweater left behind by her ex. Emily Aboud’s direction and the dynamic use of the limited space create a visceral experience. She makes use of every bit of space, and the closeness of the audience in the Studio intensifies the intimacy of how we experience Charly’s story even further.

Alexa Davies delivers a tour-de-force performance as Charly. From the moment she wakes up, she captivates the audience with her energy and charisma. Her portrayal is multifaceted, capturing both Charly’s displayed confidence as a lady dealer and her profound loneliness as a woman who never felt good enough. Davies’ ability to transition seamlessly between these two aspects of Charly’s character is a testament to her skill and versatility as an actress. It is almost heartbreaking to see how the lines blur through the course of the action, showing a raw and vulnerable person who never really found her place in life.

While Lady Dealer excels in many areas, it is not without its shortcomings. The hour-long runtime feels slightly rushed, leaving some of Charly’s emotional journey unexplored. The linear progression to her lowest point might benefit from a more nuanced exploration of her potential for change or growth. The late introduction of Keith left me with additional questions. While most of her interactions with other people were played back, the physical appearance of Keith close to Charly’s lowest point felt off. The conversation with him was important for her almost self-realisation and was cut short in a crucial moment. Although I might not have been on board with her being ‘saved’ by somebody else, I want to know where this conversation would have lead and if it would have changed something in Charly.

Lady Dealer is a compelling and thought-provoking piece that looks behind the well-crafted mask of a tough but over-worked, queer woman struggling with various aspects of her life. Watson Allpress’ writing, combined with Davies’ powerful performance, and Aboud’s innovative direction, creates a deeply moving theatrical experience. Despite minor flaws, the play succeeds in offering a raw and honest portrayal of loneliness and the search for identity. This production is a testament to the enduring power of new writing in theatre and a must-see for those seeking an emotionally resonant and uniquely told story.

{🎟 AD: PR Invite – Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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