REVIEW: 6 FT (AND) UNDER Camden Fringe at Etcetera Theatre 29 July, 8 & 9 August 2024

“A play that radiates an authentic display of strengthening feminine friendships.” ★★★★

This witty play was action-packed with flamboyant characters, Gen Z societal references, and taboos alluding to today’s messy online dating scene. 

Two singletons in their early-mid 20s, and a documentary host find themselves trapped inside a hyper-feminine bedroom, hiding from a recent zombie epidemic developing outside. Anyone bitten by a contagious person turns into one. ‘Dirty’ secrets emerge and honest confessions are made. 

On the intimate stage, a messy bedroom is revealed; decorated with a rich variety of props including posters, pink bed sheets, pink feathers, a teddy bear, and a small makeup corner with a mirror. The opening song, ‘I’m Just a Girl’ by No Doubt, suited the narrative by giving away the personas before we met them. 

The documentary host, Brigitte Mount-Batten, played by Claire Fairman, led the action with her sass and overly dramatic gestures. In this play's context, her role portrayed the wise older sister archetype. Even though she was quite self-obsessed, we saw a vulnerable side to her when she revealed that she had no best friends. 

I noticed that the audience, including myself, were laughing with an appetite when the Hunger Games was used as a comparison to modern-day dating. Additional modern connotations, such as the ‘ick,’ were included – a reference the audience were also entertained by. 

However, I think more music could have been included to boost topicality and establish the collective mood of the actors during certain scenes. For example, when the two zombies were trying to enter and the three women were bouncing around in search of weapons, upbeat soundtracks, like the Chicken Dance Song would have made the scene funnier.

I enjoyed spotting the subliminal messages this play brought forward through a humorous approach. Messages related to having self-respect, the importance of best friends, inspiring female empowerment, and not needing someone to like you for validation. 

Jugs Production 

Writer: Alice Mogridge

Actors: Alice Mogridge, Catherine Maitland, Claire Fairman, Tom Wilcox 

Director: Sarah Newman

Photography: Mr Peroxide