REVIEW: BLOOD BATH Camden Fringe at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre 29-31 July

 “Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke - a Siren, a Selkie, and a Rusalka walk into a bathroom.” ★★★

At a house party, three women are drawn to each other and the confines of the bathroom. Only, these aren’t ordinary women, they are mythical sea creatures who wreak havoc on man - retribution for man’s tendency to be liars, cheaters and violence prone. 

As they talk, they learn each other’s secrets and realise it’s not an accident that fate has brought them together...

The characters do direct address to the audience as well as interact with each other in this experimental piece. The use of language is lyrical, particularly when describing their relationship to the sea. The characters bond through their nautical connection and drive to kill. They share an understanding of what it is to be trapped with no agency to make their own choices.

The acting is solid and there are some sporadic comedic moments. The themes of freedom, choice and women's rage are explored effectively, but it was a little too abstract and existential for my tastes, parts were vague and I was left confused as to what was happening. This also slowed the pace to a detracting, meandered tempo at times.

“Bloodbath” is an ambitious play with some interesting themes and ideas, strong acting, but overall it felt ill-defined. With a tighter script, this has the potential to be an intriguing piece of theatre.

BLOOD BATH Presented by Wild Folly / Camden Fringe at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre, Kentish Town 29-31 July

Box Office: https://camdenfringe.com/events/blood-bath/

Instagram: @wildfollytheatre

Reviewer Annie Power is the Artistic Director of Open Page Productions, and an award-winning writer and producer.