Something at the Playhouse is rotten. Cue a sell-out production of social media influencers and nasty case of blackmail...
Rotten is pure chaos.
This quickfire play took place in one of the playhouse’s intimate studios, where the boundaries between stage and seats blurred so you felt completely part of the set. This setting lent itself to the story, where privacy and trust are nowhere to be found.
Rotten follows three young women trying to make it as actors in the crowded city of London whilst feeling the effects of poverty. The relationships between the characters are complicated, with so much treacherous behaviour it’s hard to keep up. When an opportunity to blackmail a high-class socialite falls into their laps, their lives begin unravelling one by one.
their lives begin unravelling one by one
The writer, Josie White, finds space in the action to slow each character down, revealing their pasts, from a runaway dad, a family fallen from grace, identity trauma and flashbacks to the Troubles. You begin to see why these girls are so desperate for a new life.
Despite these moments of seriousness, as a comedy, the play hits all the marks, with its over the top characters and continuous references to recent pop culture. As the tension builds, the double crossings get more and more ridiculous. There are certainly twists, but if you’re expecting a real thriller, this play is more for the laughs.
Rotten performed at the Playhouse on Saturday October 12th 2024.
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