REVIEW – RAPTURE – PLEASANCE THEATRE

Jill Johnson

2 years ago

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Trigger warning: Rapture talks about distressing topics including sexual assault, substance abuse, addiction, mental illness, suicidal idealization, mis-gendering, dead-naming, bereavement, and grief, as well as partial nudity, strong language, flashing lights, and smoke.

Rapture is a hilariously and painfully relatable play showcasing the highs, lows, and everything in between of the queer experience in London.

Rapture is the debut production of a new LGBTQIA+ theatre company called Pink Sky Theatre. Sophie Leydon wrote and directed it, and the team includes Verity Johnson (set and costume design), Ros Chase (lighting design), Ellie Isherwood (sound design), and Finlay Carroll (engagement production). Rapture is on at the lovely Pleasance Theatre. The set includes a few props (e.g. alcohol bottles, bandages, a speaker, a microphone, and benches) as well as a projection displayed on the back wall.

The show instantly wins you over with the hilarious opening scene of Rosy (Izzy Neish) telling her roommate/best friend Tommy (Bryan Moriarty) and partner Kit (Sam Crerar) she is thinking of dying her hair blue in order to look more gay. The beauty of the play is there are all kinds of conversations about what it’s like to be queer, and at times it was almost like they were speaking a love letter to London. Each character encounters issues that are specific and unspecific to queerness. The dialogue is genuine, and the actors have great chemistry with each other, making you wonder if they are actually roommates in real life. I loved the interdisciplinary inclusion of poetry. I got teary-eyed multiple times while watching Rapture, and the play holds true to its tagline “You choose your family.”

While Izzy, Tommy, and Kit are the main characters, the actors played a few side characters each. Although there were no costume changes, they still effectively communicated the switch to another character by changing their accent, posture, or even just demeanor. Neish conveys Rosy’s kind heart so wonderfully that you want to protect her at all costs. Tommy has a beautiful arc as a character, a feat made possible by Moriarty’s impeccable acting. He shows the reality behind the trauma of sexual assault, sharing his mixed thoughts and emotions regarding it. Kit was the most serious character of the three, and Crerar played them with passion and heart.

Rapture is intensely genuine; I felt like I could be listening to the stories of my friends. The actors’ emotions are infectious; when they hurt, you hurt, and when they are joyful, you’re joyful. I implore you to see this beautiful production on at the Pleasance Theatre until 17 July.

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

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