The Alternative to Living

⭐⭐⭐ A delightfully energetic play that I worry needs to centre on its message a little more

The Alternative to Living is a difficult play to talk about. A friend put it best to me: abstract. This is probably the most abstract (and perhaps complex) play I’ve had the pleasure to review.

There isn’t so much of a plot, per se, and while there are characters none of them are given names or indeed arcs. 

Let us start with my favourite bits. Lorenzo Condemi (A) is the standout star in this show. Absolutely every scene he is in is full of energy and brought me into the scene. Dramatic and comedic they both really worked.

There was audience participation… sort of. It was one very limited piece of audience interaction that I didn’t see the purpose of. In my opinion either get rid of the audience interaction or lean into it. I don’t want to dive into tropes too much but either have zero or have three. Having one is just weird. 

The piece had a very severe earnestness but, and I worry I’m a little harsh here, it felt a little like an aggrandised drama school final project, with several very dramatic monologues.

I learned after-the-fact that the cast were all first year university students and this impressed me - I could not expect better from people new to the industry!