The Ugly One is one of eight contemporary shows being performed as part of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (BOVTS) Summer Festival at The Wardrobe Theatre.
We can’t say much about this show without giving away the many surprises but we can reveal that the production is an 80 minute rollercoaster of a theatre experience.
The dark comedy focuses on the story of Lette, an inventor who is set to announce his new groundbreaking product. But what he doesn’t realise is that his face is quite unusual and not well liked. When his ugliness is pointed out to him, he feels he has no option but to take drastic action.
What then follows is a dramatic and often hilarious exploration of what beauty means in the modern world. The show, witten by Marius Von Mayenburg, directed by Natalie Simone and designed by Vyshnavi Krishnan, focuses on our obsession with how people look and whether it’s possible to become too beautiful.
Described as a “savage social satire which unravels in an absurd world where everyone begins to look the same”, The Ugly One kept us on the edge of our seat. There are several laugh out loud moments and one section which led to gasps from the audience and definitely isn’t a scene for all the family!
The four actors – Kate Cartwright, Sumāh Ebelé, Kerr Louden and Christopher Williams – are superb and all put in outstanding performances in this fast paced 80 minute show.
It’s a very interesting play for our social media age and really makes you think. The beauty of The Wardrobe Theatre is that it’s part of the Old Market Assemby bar where you can discuss the themes over a pint afterwards.
Catch it while you can!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ugly One is at The Wardrobe Theatre until 10 June. The BOVTS Summer Festival continues until 17 June.
Main image by C Fuller. Rehearsal image by Ed Felton.
