Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Two fierce women from across the pond display their wares: Milly Thomas in DUST & Luisa Omielan in GOD IS A WOMAN

• By drediman
• September 21, 2019
• No Comments

Over the last week or so, I had the chance to experience two fierce women from across the pond displaying their wares in their respective Off-Broadway solo shows. I had seen neither before, but I’m happy to say that I’ve become a fan of both.

Milly Thomas in “Dust” at the Fourth Street Theatre, courtesy of New York Theatre Workshop’s Next Door programming.

First up at the Fourth Street Theatre, courtesy of New York Theatre Worksop’s Next Door programming, is Dust (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), Milly Thomas’s pitch black, emotionally raw solo show about a woman’s journey through depression, suicide, and the spectral beyond – and not necessarily in that order. Pain and anger are overwhelmingly palpable in this fever dream of a play (previously seen on the West End, as well as at the Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre), which has been written and performed with laser-focused precision and dexterity by Ms. Thomas, who in the piece fearlessly plays a wide array of characters in addition to the work’s damaged central anti-hero. The intensity never ceases in this suffocating 80-minute play, culminating in a depiction of the act of suicide that literally gave me a panic attack. Relentless and unsparing, Dust – directed with exactitude by Sara Joyce – is certainly not for the faint of heart, but those brave enough to take the pressure cooker journey will have witnessed an astonishing, highly physical performance that’s all but guaranteed to leave you stunned.

Luisa Omielan in “God Is A Woman” at the SoHo Playhouse.

On a significantly lighter note is Luisa Omielan’s God Is a Woman (RECOMMENDED), which is wrapping up performances at the SoHo Playhouse (the final performance is tonight, in fact). The stand-up comedy act cum monologue – a form that’s becoming increasingly popular (thanks to trending contributions from the likes of Hannah Gadsby and Jacqueline Novak) – takes a crack at dissecting the oft-explored territory of religion and its role in modern life. That Ms. Omielan turns the construct of organized religion on its head is not much of a surprise. What she does, however, is give her audiences a personal narrative that’s hugely compelling and consistently funny, thanks to her uniquely observant, quick-witted delivery and smart feminine perspective. Ms. Omielan’s is an interesting comic persona; she utilizes a largely untapped combination of soft-voiced self-deprecating mannerisms and stealthily placed zingers to disarming effect. There’s also the matter of her adorable and totally chill support dog, Bernie, a two-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog mountain dog who shares the stage with her – take that, Hannah Gadsby.

DUST
Off-Broadway, Play
New York Theatre Workshop / Next Door
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Through September 29

GOD IS A WOMAN
Off-Broadway, Play/Comedy
SoHo Playhouse
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through September 21