The Little Death by Mina Orak and Justin Atkins is a dynamic and brutally honest piece about the relentless pursuit of pleasure while simultaneously having a genuine desire for connection.
Orak delves deeply into her sexual past, exploring themes of self-discovery, pleasure, and a devastating lack of fulfillment. This lack is all-encompassing and is explored through comedy and melodrama in equal measure. In this autobiographical account, Atkins, the ever-supportive best friend, is the exhausted voice of reason who helps Orak break through the hysteria and find clarity about the reasons behind her self-destructive behavior.
The ruthlessness and repetition of personal torture are powerfully thoughtful and unvarnished. The vivid characters of Mina’s Vagina and the Drag Queen are outrageous, adding fire and spice to the inclusivity of the content, with the celebration of queer allyship deliberately at the forefront.
The play deliberately walks an uncomfortable line between manic and painful hysteria. Orak’s journey is inspired by the question “How do you feel after sex?”, after which the plot explores experimentation, quirks and her need for attention, all while remaining conscious of her Mediterranean heritage. The play would benefit from further exploration of the implications of her culture.
The use of video clips and word projections brings an additional visual element that incorporates gore and light horror into the depiction of Orak’s turmoil. The play also includes some pre-arranged audience interactions designed to break the fourth wall to engage viewers and make connections to the experiences of the relationship story, which works well.
Orak doesn’t shy away from anything, this piece goes full throttle, foregrounding the nature of her sexual liberation and her expectations of intimacy with captivating power.
Special highlights were the wild dance sequence between Orak and Mina’s vagina and the fabulous cheekiness of Jay Mankoo.
Lost in a cycle of seduction, wilder inclinations and remorseful despair, Orak’s little deaths are heartbreaking and captivating. They reveal and encourage shamelessness, The Little Death is a daring piece about the relentless pursuit of pleasure while at the same time genuinely needing that extra dimension of connection.
“Psychotic heartfelt sadness” wrapped in a wild mix of vibrancy, this is an exploration of self-discovery. The lack of emotional self-care and well-being led to a significant section on the revelation of careful introspection that left viewers feeling compelled to click to acknowledge the heartfelt impact. The integral unity of supportive friends and family brought light to the artistic representation, the antidote to indecision.
The Little Death runs in King’s Head Theater until August 31, 2024.
Photo credit: Justin Atkins
Comments
To post a comment, you must register And Login.