Some performances—especially those featuring circus and juggling—can only truly work in a large space. However,
Surreal and impressive skills displayed by Ofelia Grey
The stage is minimally yet intriguingly set: a small table and chairs stage right, and a glowing circular shape affixed to the backdrop. Ofelia Grey enters deliberately and strikingly. Is she stalking? Her movement evokes a flamenco style. She begins by using the glowing orb to showcase her balance and movement dexterity.
In the next vignette, she abruptly shifts to puppetry and monologue, interacting with the unseen waiter, Sebastian. A coffee pot and napkin are woven together seamlessly to become a puppet—perhaps the embodiment of a childhood friend?
Next, she portrays a playful woodland creature concocting a magic potion to provoke her uncongenial neighbour into dance. This is followed by a circus-style display of movement and physicality. The character’s abrasiveness begins to feel like a mask—perhaps hinting at deeper insecurity. Like the coffee pot, the fish may represent an imaginary companion.
As the piece unfolds, Grey switches fluidly between characters and performance styles, showcasing an impressive range of theatrical talents: dramatic monologue, mime, physical theatre, clowning, storytelling, and juggling.
The production is surreal and steeped in fantasy. Is Sebastian even real? It's difficult to discern what is reality, memory, symbolism, or pure imagination. This is where Café de Profundis doesn’t entirely land—the blend of concepts and theatrical disciplines feels overly broad, leaving some audience members unsure of what they had just witnessed.
“Things fall apart all the time,” notes our protagonist. Yet the striking finale strongly contradicts that sentiment. Ofelia Grey is a talented and creative artist who will no doubt return with more startling work in the future.
