.png)
Beverley Brommert
A show billed as the "unfiltered confessions of a quarter life crisis" raises expectations of some spirited entertainment, which A DOLL'S LIFE meets in full measure.
Micaela Jade Tucker's sharp, witty, articulate script, her jaunty twenty-something persona, and an intimate venue conducive to confidences of a highly personal nature, ensure audience complicity from the outset.
Tucker's intense eye-contact and alarming smile, as well as an impressive facial repertoire, concentrate the attention of her listeners. Her delivery is, moreover, supremely confident (due no doubt to being the author of this 60-minute piece).
The only identifiable flaw in this arresting one-hander is the lack of nuance: Tucker launches into the performance in top gear and stays there throughout. The occasional silence for a moment of reflection here and there is not sufficient to mitigate the relentless pace, and while one can only admire the performer's stamina, it is a pity that it results in undermining the impact of a potentially impressive drama.
Among the show's strong points is Tucker's authoritative impersonation of diverse characters, male and female alike. Chief of these is the protagonist's objectionable gynaecologist, likewise her highly strung mother. Recognisable caricatures, yes, but plausible enough to pass muster.
Content-wise, explicit reference to what an earlier generation would have coyly termed "woman trouble" is refreshingly honest, if sometimes overboard; nor does Tucker shy away from asserting her Jewishness, which takes some courage given the current situation in the Middle East.
It is this bold willingness to confront awkward truths that makes A DOLL'S LIFE both invigorating and engaging. Well done to Tucker for performance and script alike.
A DOLL'S LIFE, written and performed by Micaela Jade Tucker (under direction of Lara Toselli) is onstage at Only Fools (82 Regent Road Sea Point) until 20 November 2024. Tickets can be bought online through Webtickets.