Soho Theatre has welcomed our new favourite show that transcends gender and reality
BY GRACE CROWLEY, IMAGES BY STE MURRAY
London theatre lovers, get ready for a fabulous night out. THISISPOPBABY’s 0800 Cupid has come to Soho Theatre and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat. Blending breakups, diagnoses and an accidental 18-hour trip, Emer Dineen’s writing and performance exceeded my expectations – even after reading the countless five-star reviews from Dublin Theatre Festival.
In this autobiographical play, the audience watches Emer (she/they) wrestle with adulthood and all the responsibilities that come with it. Set in London, the play is lightly peppered with Dineen’s Irish background, with their drag persona Cupid being Greek and Corkonian. They take Cupid around the dingiest gay bars in the city. Feeling disconnected from the world around them after multiple lockdowns, Emer tries to find themself in stares with Tesco workers and weekend-long sessions partying. After losing their job in a call centre, breaking up with their girlfriend and their father’s dementia worsening, Emer finds themself filled with existential dread.
There are many unforgettable moments throughout the chaotic story, but what stuck with me were the moments with Emer’s father. Never facing the audience, he, played by Carl Harrison, wore a cow print fringe jacket and Western hat. It was such a sensitive way to approach the scary topic of dementia whilst creating a textured, multi-layered plot. In these moments, Emer was transformed into a child who was struggling under the weight of the world and just missed their father.
It would be impossible to talk about 0800 Cupid without talking about the music. The cabaret and musical extravaganza is full to the brim of catchy tunes and hysterical lyrics, written by Dineen. One lyric that made me giggle on my tube ride home was about taking a bath with someone they’d met online and how it was weird and intimate but they still kind of liked it. The music was the perfect tool to confront the darker themes too. Visiting a church brings up many confusing feelings for Emer – a relatable experience for those who come from an Irish Catholic background like theirs! These feelings are told perfectly with belting solos and teary eyes.
The cast worked together fabulously, with Isabel Adomakoh and Carl Harrison’s physicality on stage never falling short of perfect. Their abilities to execute their multi-roles are admirable. There was never any confusion about which character they were because they slipped into each of them so seamlessly.
0800 Cupid is the perfect watch for young creatives struggling to find their feet in the scary adult world. It’s a beautifully balanced mix of performance and reality, with delicious cabaret numbers that will have you tapping your feet all the way home.
THISISPOPBABY’S 0800 Cupid is at Soho Theatre, Dean Street from 16-26 October at 7 pm with matinees at 2:30 pm.
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