Revenge Drama's Twists Fall Flat

Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's 2015 revenge drama unfolds at Southwark Playhouse, presenting a complex dynamic between a former school bully and her victim. Decades after a harrowing abuse incident, the victim, Heather, reappears. She confronts Carla, her former tormentor, who is now facing her own life's hardships, including an unexpected pregnancy and an unhappy relationship.

Heather, now a successful professional, subtly reminds Carla of her improved circumstances, hinting at a carefully planned retribution. Director James Haddrell's production attempts to build suspense with numerous plot twists. However, these narrative turns are often unbelievable and lack convincing tension, diminishing the overall impact of the drama.

The play initially employs non-naturalistic staging, replaying scenes from various angles with unsettling sound effects. This stylistic choice is abandoned after the interval, leading to a disjointed viewing experience where earlier elements feel detached from the later acts.

Beneath the convoluted plotting, the drama grapples with significant themes: the enduring impact of childhood torment, the shaping of adult lives by past trauma, and the nature of catharsis. Metaphors like the tarantula hawk wasp suggest the destructive power of anger, both in the aggressor and the victim. Class and privilege are explored as factors in the protagonists' lives, alongside hints of Carla's own traumatic upbringing.

Despite its original premise and thematic depth, the play's ambition to be a Hitchcockian thriller is hampered by its busy plotting and stilted execution, ultimately failing to deliver a truly compelling or resonant experience.