LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

View All Shows Booking Now
  • Home
  • Top Selling Shows
    • Musicals
    • Plays
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
      • The Mousetrap
      • The Woman in Black
      • Witness for the Prosecution
    • & Juliet
    • Back To The Future
    • Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
    • Come From Away
    • Dirty Dancing
    • Frozen The Musical
    • Heathers
    • Jersey Boys
    • Les Misérables
    • Mamma Mia
    • Matilda the Musical
    • My Fair Lady
    • Moulin Rouge
    • Only Fools and Horses
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • The Book of Mormon
    • The Drifters Girl
    • The Lion King
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
    • London Theatres
      • Seating Plans
      • Adelphi Theatre
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Apollo Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Gillian Lynne Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Savoy Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • UK Shows
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
      • Bristol Theatre Seating Plan
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » Reviews » Review of 0 Days Without Crying at Landor_Space

Review of 0 Days Without Crying at Landor_Space

April 12, 2018 Last updated: April 12, 2018 10:53 am By Laura Thomas

0 Days Without Crying - Credit - Saima Ahmed
0 Days Without Crying – Credit – Saima Ahmed

This is the fourth dramatic work by playwright, published writer and performer Caterina Incisa, and it’s premiere in London following development and performance in Montreal.

Funny, poignant and well observed, the quality of writing sets this work apart from the others that use the somewhat hackneyed premise ‘millennial coming to grips with life’ as the basis of their narrative. Incisa has created a fully populated milieu of rounded characters to illustrate a multi-faceted story. Credit is also due to dramaturge Jesse Strong and the Montreal Young Creators Unit.

Surrounded by fast food detritus in a flat in contemporary London, with its authentic touches of hand me down furniture and heavily laden airing racks, we meet Jess (played by the writer herself), newly single and struggling with self-loathing. The play is part monologue, part drama, as Incisa takes on the roles of characters in Jess’s life, all well-intentioned and often sympathetic, but all missing the mark in their attempts to reach out to this troubled young woman.

We see her variously as a nude model in a life drawing class (Jo Wright’s costume design here is hilarious), venting noisily at her annoying friend Poppy and patronised by her mansplaining therapist. One senses all these supporting characters have complete if tacit, story arcs of their own. Incisa plays each as a distinct individual, often in dialogue with Jess and each other, and only afterwards does it hit home what an incredible feat of concentration the actor has pulled off.

Director Anna Marshal keeps the pace brisk and full of movement, utilising a non-traditional performing area well. Sound design and music by Wilfred Petherbridge, and intelligent use of simple lighting changes, frame Jess’s descent into panic and despair.

Gradually, Jess’s backstory comes out, and the mood of the piece darkens. We see the tragedy that thrust her prematurely into adulthood and meet the loving father, his own grief echoing like barely heard thunder. Her controlling ex is denied a name, but is ever-present.

Loudest of all is her own inner narrative, hateful and destructive. This voice becomes ever more insistent as she stumbles through increasingly desperate strategies to silence her demons. Lusting after her GP and fantasizing about a brave death, she suffers excruciating embarrassment during a chance encounter in his waiting room.

She has a meltdown at a therapy group, (where she plays four characters in one scene) and it appears that she has finally lost it. The cathartic reveal, when it comes, is simple and elegant, as the real Jess emerges, hidden in plain sight. And then there is a dark final twist.

Playing out a love story between super-ego and id, Jess is a triumph, a revealing hero of her age. An assured, hilarious and terrifying performance from an emerging playwright and rising star. One to watch out for.

4 stars

Review by Laura Thomas

Goblin. Troll. Pathetic. These are some of the ways Jess describes herself. This solo tragicomedy follows Jess as she makes ill-advised and embarrassing attempts to “love” herself. It’s rip-your-heart-out-sad and piss-yourself-funny, and for anyone who’s ever looked in the mirror and wanted to vom.

0 DAYS WITHOUT CRYING
9TH, 10TH & 11TH APRIL 2018
LANDOR_SPACE (ABOVE THE LANDOR PUB)
70 LANDOR ROAD
LONDON SW9 9PH

Search for Tickets

Titus Andronicus at Shakespeare’s Globe

Titus Andronicus is not usually a comedy, it is usually a bloody, villainous and vengeful tale, but tonight it is a comedy and a rather amusing one at … [Read More...]

I Found My Horn – at the White Bear Theatre

This show is not without clichés - there are three of note in this production. Firstly, the French horn of the show’s title is personified, speaking … [Read More...]

How Not To Drown at Theatre Royal Stratford East

There’s very little in the way of set in this show: aside from chairs, a few crash barriers and at one point, a red carpet, the actors’ movements … [Read More...]

Why Can’t I Just enjoy Things – Soho Theatre

South African born, but raised on the Isle of Man, Pierre Novellie is a true raconteur rather than just another 'stand-up' comedian. He says about his … [Read More...]

Welcome Home by Willy Huson at Soho Theatre

This show, Willy Hudson began by saying, is about himself. It is written by himself, is directed by himself and executive produced by himself. Almost … [Read More...]

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2023 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.