Reviewed by Giada
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
Playfight is a tender and unapologetic coming-of-age story about what it takes to understand and accept oneself. And what you have to let go of in that process.
An oak tree (as steady as a ladder) is the centre around which three young girls, over almost ten years, meet, confide in, betray, and ultimately forgive one another. If only that tree could speak! It listens, however, holding and protecting their secrets. The old tree stands as the only certainty in the tumultuous and formative years of adolescence. Although they are just beginning their lives, they already feel time is slipping away. They are eager for experiences, believing that is the only way to try and find answers to the big questions looming over them: school, sex, friendship, love, future. And above all, they learn to take accountability and face the consequences of their choices.
Each girl has a unique approach to navigating life. Keira (Sophie Cox) is self-guarded, outspoken, and crazy funny - almost a menace. She drops out of school and opens an OF account. Zainab (Nina Cassells) is grounded, determined, and fierce. She loves Lucy, but Lucy (Lucy Mangan) is inconsistent, volatile and sensitive. A bit of a mess. Most of the time, she loves Erik, but sometimes she finds herself drawn to Zainab.
A significant part of their growth involves exploring their sexual identities, particularly for Lucy, a church girl with sadistic tendencies. Her journey toward her loss of "innocence" coincides with the liberation from the Christian idea of purity.
Though these girls share a bond from their time together, they have little in common beyond that. As they mature, their paths inevitably diverge, leading them to become acquaintances who only reconnect after a long time, often under tragic circumstances.
Julia Grogan’s debut play showcases a promising future. It’s remarkable how Grogan balances sensitivity and brutal honesty while portraying such a delicate time - navigating the brink of adulthood and exploring female and queer identities. The chaos, the pain, and the beauty (only recognised in retrospect) of becoming your own person resonate deeply. Putting those feelings into words, untangling them, and trying to make sense of it all is undoubtedly challenging, yet essential. I hope a younger audience comes to see the show. If only Julia had been around when I was 16, she could have saved me some trouble!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Playfight plays at Soho Theatre until 26th April 2025. Tickets are available from https://sohotheatre.com/events/playfight/
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