REVIEW: CORONA DAZE at Hen and Chickens Theatre 17 April – 25 May 2024

‘A comforting and relatable Lockdown comedy’ ★★★

Lockdown-era Norfolk provides an ideal suburban setting for this slice of life comedy about the trials and tribulations of Nicky (Alice Bragg), a soon to be furloughed estate agent and mother who has her life turned upside down by Covid-19.

A one woman show that remains indoors at all times, Nicky’s life is fleshed out over a series of video calls between herself and her mother as the first UK Lockdown comes into effect, peaks and finally recedes. During these calls Nicky’s slowly dwindling mental health and domestic bliss is entertainingly drawn out thanks to the often nagging voices of her husband and daughters filtering in from beyond with their own issues and pleas; all while Nicky is barely managing to stay in one piece.

In an interesting twist, the one character left unvoiced is the woman on the other end of these calls; we only hear Nicky’s responses to her mother and are left to imagine the rest. It’s a striking decision that unfortunately slows the play down quite a bit – the majority of Nicky’s dialogue becomes expository as a result, often repeating verbatim what her mother has supposedly just asked. It wears thin fast, despite the details that do emerge from these one-sided conversations being rich and often amusing.

For better or worse amusement is the peak of emotion here, as plot wise nothing much really happens. There are hints of tension and conflict relating to competitive parents in WhatsApp groups and neighbors reporting each other for breach of Covid laws, but these never break out into anything notable. The strength and weakness of this show is ultimately how low stakes everything is, keeping it charming and relatable but also preventing it from delivering much that stands out.

The show executes this intention to great effect with sound and lighting that’s always on point. The intermissions between the acts of the play are strong as well, populated by soundbites from contemporary news bulletins and political speeches, perfectly filling the spaces in between while also letting us know how time is passing in Nicky’s world.

If you’re looking for a comforting and relatable Lockdown comedy, Coronoa Daze hits the mark. Just don’t expect much besides.

Images by Ali Wright

Corona Daze at The Hen & Chickens Theatre 17th-25th April & 19th - 25th May2024

Box office: https://www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/corona-daze/

Written by Alice Bragg & Lucie Capel

Directed by Benji Sperring

Produced by Capel & Bragg Productions

Sound Design by Dean Moore

Lighting Design by Joshua Barber

Reviewed by Harry Conway