REVIEW: ORDINARY MADNESS at Riverside Studio until 9 March 2025

‘a dark, funny, and emotional journey’ ★★★★

Charles Bukowski is the archetypal “cult” writer. Despite having stories published from his early 20s onwards, he had very little critical and commercial success, at least not until later in life. Working in a variety of ‘ordinary’ jobs, his experience informed his poems and stories, which are a portrait of urban working-class post-war America. There is plenty of drinking and a fair bit of violence. But there is also great humanity and beauty too. 

Directed by Anya Viller, Ordinary Madness does well in having so many characters and situations whilst keeping momentum. The staging, (set design by Alexandra Dashevsky), is minimalist but imaginative. The production presents six stories, interspersed with poetry. In fact, Bukowski’s poem Bluebird is read jointly by the cast at the beginning. The beautiful bird kept inside, suppressed by cigarettes and alcohol, is emblematic of his work. The production takes us through the decades with a diverse collection of characters, many down on their luck and often looking to escape.

We have the small-time crook who loves playing with his daughter. Then there’s the guy who is broke and must sell his treasured collection of classical records to a pair of nuns who drive a hard bargain. Not to mention the woman who is looking for love through an advert in a shop window, with predictably disastrous consequences. It never becomes repetitive because there is always a twist or unexpected element in each story. 

Stand out stories include “Love for $17.50”, about a man (James Viller, excellent throughout) who buys a shop mannequin (Victoria Valcheva) and falls in love. This story shows Bukowski’s goofier side but is not without pathos. Perhaps the strongest story is the final one, with Viller playing Bukowski’s alter-ego Henry Chinaski and exploring his tumultuous relationship with a Texan woman (Amy Leeson). Chinaski is pretty sanguine about uprooting himself for what turns out to be a short-lived marriage, chuckling and shrugging his shoulders over a lost fortune. 

With an excellent soundtrack of music from the period, including Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Velvet Underground, and Jimi Hendrix, the play captures a society changing, although often little changes for the characters themselves. It is great to spend the evening in Bukowski-land, and the talented young cast help to create a laid-back vibe whilst taking you on a dark, funny, and emotional journey. And if you’re lucky you might get treated to a beer at the end.   

Playing at Riverside Studios 15 February - 9 March 2025

BOX OFFICE

ORDINARY MADNESS is based on the poems and stories of Charles Bukowski, directed by Anya Viller, presented by Art Theatre London & supported by the WeExist! Foundation

Cast

Victoria Valcheva, Andrew Buzzeo, Francesca Wilson Waterworth, James Viller, Amy Leeson