Dear Young Monster at Soho Theatre Review
Written by ZiWen Gong for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Premiering at Bristol Old Vic in 2024 and nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Studio Production, the solo play Dear Young Monster, written and performed by Pete MacHale and directed by Sammy J Glover, has now come to Soho Theatre, bringing audiences a deeply personal story of a transgender individual.
The story follows a 17-year-old transgender boy who, after dropping out of school, returns to his hometown and begins the early stages of medical transition. He often looks in the mirror and listens to his voice, searching for more and more masculine traits in himself, feeling joy over even the smallest changes. There are a few especially important people in his life: his best friend Mia (though she hasn’t been replying much lately), his overly concerned mother, and a little girl who lives on the same street. However, the journey of becoming a man turns out to be longer than he had imagined. He’s already grown distant from who he used to be, yet still feels a gap between himself and the person he wants to become.
This story not only unfolds in a calm and delicate manner, but also carries a bold central idea throughout. The protagonist continuously compares his changing self to the monster from Frankenstein. Frankenstein is the protagonist’s favorite story, and the monster within it is a character he both aspires to and deeply resonates with. Accompanied by rapidly shifting lights and projections, along with music that heightens the emotional atmosphere, the protagonist often suddenly reveals a darker side of himself. And as he waits to become a man, his behavior in real life also gradually begins to reflect that of the monster in the story.
Pete MacHale’s performance makes an already well-crafted script even more compelling. Each time he delivers a few lines with the monster’s terrifying expressions and deep voice, he then shifts instantly, as the lights soften, back into a shy and smiling boy. He is reserved but lively, carrying an energy that feels sensitive, warm, and slightly vulnerable. When you see him trying to keep a fierce expression when putting on the monster costume, only to accidentally let a gleeful smile slip through, it becomes difficult not to smile along with him.
Although the themes explored in this story are not particularly new and the plot is rarely surprising, its deeply personal mode of storytelling is something quite rare. After watching the piece, it becomes clear that the performer has captured exactly what he most wanted to express. You find yourself laughing with him, feeling sad for him, and finding him endearing. This piece leaves the audience with a warm and lasting impression.
Dear Young Monster runs at Soho Theatre until 16th August 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★
