The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin at New Diorama Theatre Review
Written by Eleanor B for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are my own
Content Warnings: Haze, loud noise, flashing lights, blood, violence and references to war, depression, anxiety and suicide. Recomennded for ages 14+.
A truly mind-bending piece of theatre, The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin explores the use of AI as a form of therapy, prompted simply to listen while remaining inquisitive. Alec has done something he deeply regrets, and is trying to rid himself of the lingering nausea that comes from becoming so desensitised to both the media and yourself that it begins to feel like an out-of-body experience.
As you enter the theatre, you are met with a bright yellow carpet and a large beanbag-like mound with a pair of legs sticking out from underneath. It immediately sets the tone for the absurdity that follows.
The acting in this production is incredibly strong. James Aldred plays Alec Baldwin, not the Alec Baldwin, as we are frequently reminded, with complete conviction. You can feel the stress and inner turmoil bubbling beneath the surface throughout his monologues. His delivery is controlled and clear, drawing the audience into that same sense of unease.
Supporting him are Stephanie Bruckner as Lucy, Mathias Augustyn Ambjør as Daniel, and Bartel Jespers as James, each acting as Alec’s colleagues, amongst some other background characters. Also present for much of the performance is Manuela Pierri, who appears to represent the AI itself. Whether standing silently in the corner, her face lit by the glow of a laptop, or following Alec with a camera that projects onto the screen behind them, she adds an eerie, ever-present layer to the production.
While the performances are consistently strong, there are moments where the piece leans a little too far into its own absurdity. Certain sections feel out of place or overly drawn out. Without giving too much away, a sudden, loud dance break appears with little context, feeling more like a shock tactic than a narrative choice. There are also sequences filled with overlapping voices and visuals, which seem to reflect the overwhelming nature of constant content or the noise inside Alec’s mind. While effective in parts, they do at times run longer than needed, tipping from impactful into slightly overwhelming.
At 90 minutes without an interval, the show does occasionally feel as though it could be tighter. Some of these more abstract moments could be trimmed without losing the core of the story. While the play clearly leans into the absurdity of modern life and our growing reliance on AI, there are points where it feels like it pushes that idea a little too far, simply for the sake of it.
The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin plays at the New Diorama Theatre until the 24th of March.
★ ★ ★
