WAKE by THISISPOPBABY, Peacock Theatre Review
Written by Franco Milazzo for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Putting the “fun” into “funeral”, Wake proves (if proof was needed) that no-one does a send-off quite like the Irish.
Wake started life in 2022, a post-pandemic response which spoke to all bereavements, whether through Covid-19 or something else. After a successful run at the Dublin Fringe, it toured its home country and has landed in London hoping to make something of a similar splash. A potent cocktail of dance, live music, poetry, burlesque, comedy, circus and possibly a kitchen sink or two, THISISPOPBABY’s extravaganza has everything you could want from a variety show. Well, I call it a show but frankly, I’ve seen quieter riots.
In this collaboration between Jennifer Jennings, Philip McMahon and Niall Sweeney (and with a score by Alma Kelliher), we go from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again a number of times. Nigerian-Irish poet Felicia Olusanya leads from the front, a solo figure whose blazing words fill an otherwise empty stage. Her lucid delivery strikes as many chords as the four-piece band behind her as she speaks of death, grief and how we deal with and react to both. Some around me dab eyes, others just silently nod, and there’s a real sense of community formed just through the realisation that this is something we have all faced in some form or another.
Entertainment comes at us from every angle and each sequence has clearly been honed without looking over-rehearsed. When Olusanya isn’t keeping it actually real, the circus artists are keeping it vaguely surreal with some excellent mid-air feats from aerialist Jenny Tufts and Venezuelan pole artiste Lisette Krol. Down on the ground, “English cousin” and aspiring DJ Duncan Disorderly has us on our feet bouncing along to club hits when not dragging audience members up for some tender tomfoolery. Cristian Dirocie from the Dominican Republic is a breakdancer extraordinaire, popping and locking when not spinning around on his head. Lucia McPartlin and Darren Roche keep it traditional on the fiddle and accordion, respectively and know exactly how to light a party up.
It’s no secret that close brushes with the afterlife can make one a tad horny and the cast tackle this head-on with acts which appeal across genders and sexual preference. There’s no shortage of hot bodies, sparkly briefs and tight outfits and this is all brought to a head in Michael Roberson’s excellent dance piece at the end. Entering the stage in full Gaelic sporting attire and with a sports bag slung over one shoulder, he’s the walking epitome of testosterone. That all gets flipped on its head as he strips off to reveal shiny gold hotpants and a mesh vest. From the bag, he takes out a glitter ball which he attaches to some circus straps before giving us the full Riverdance, his arms barely moving as his legs spin this way and that. To finish off, he grabs the duo straps and takes to the air showing strength, control and pretty much everything that Mother Nature blessed him with.
Wake is a blisteringly good show that finds its feet fast and then delivers hit after hit. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we see of it.
Wake continues at Peacock Theatre until 5 April before continuing to Manchester’s Aviva Studios (17-21 April).
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
