REVIEW: THREE by Dangerosity at Canal Café Theatre until 19 Nov 2022

‘agonisingly relatable’ ★★★★

If you’ve ever responded to an email with the phrase “no worries if not” then you’re bound to find Three agonisingly relatable. “Woman” grapples with self-doubt, is hellbent on self-sabotage, considers self-harm and neglects to look after her…self…part of which is personified on-stage by her confidant, Patch. 

Patch is the chirpy side of Woman’s personality, forever coming up with interesting ideas to help her get her life back on track. For the most part, Woman resists these attempts, slumping further into loneliness and depression. Three is about the familiar process of stopping oneself from doing the things that will only improve your life. It’s about seeking a false sense of comfort in inaction. But it’s also about getting over those patterns of behaviour, confronting that which is scary, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and open to new possibilities.

Believe it or not, the show is a comedy that is, at times, so funny it could be stand-up. While Woman is characterised by jitteriness, Patch is desperately funny and is at her best when performing suggestive dance routines to classical music. But the real power of Three’s humour is the way it suddenly snaps into gut-wrenching sadness.

Structurally, the show is messy, goes off on tangents and lacks any real tension. But in a way that fits with its message that humans are messy people. They don’t adhere to clear plot-lines and sometimes can’t see the way forward despite other people’s evangelistic attempts to get them into yoga or origami. In the play, as in real life, change often comes out of the blue in unexpected moments.

THREE

Canal Café Theatre, Delamere Terrace, Little Venice, London, W2 6ND. 

16th November – 20th of November 2022

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 6:30pm.

Running time: Approx 90 minutes. Age recommendation: Ages 14+

Box Office: https://canalcafetheatre.com/our-shows/three/

020 7289 6054

Cast: Christie Peto and Hannah Harquart

Director: Sophie McMahon

Producers: Emily Ashcroft, Glynne Steele and Canal Café Theatre, London

Reviewer: Danny Shaw

Danny studied English at Bristol University before completing a screenwriting MA at Leeds Beckett. He now works in film and is an aspiring screenwriter / playwright.