Make the Bed is an exploration of anxiety and paranoia based on writer and performer Ariela Nazar-Rosen’s own experience—in particular, a bed bug scare that pushed her to breaking point. Tender, raw and emotional, Make the Bed is a very genuine and heartfelt depiction of anxiety which would benefit from some tweaks to adapt more effectively to the stage.
A very genuine and heartfelt depiction of anxiety
The first few minutes are effectively in complete silence as we witness Ariela’s waking hours. Tension gradually builds and it becomes clear that she is certain that bed bugs are crawling in her bed. When so many solo shows are overflowing with text, exposition and exhibitionism, Nazar-Rosen’s quieter performance provides a welcome contrast. The minimal dialogue is extremely effective in conveying Ariela’s trepidation, as if we, too are teetering on the edge. She calls her therapist and attempts to self-soothe with guided meditations and self-help recordings. These offer momentary respite, before the paranoid thoughts creep back back in again. This raises the salient question: how is one supposed to self-soothe when feeling so unstable? A revealing voice note from her mother suggests that Ariela has been struggling for some time and is not reaching out for help.
Nazar-Rosen delivers a tender, heart-wrenching performance. She conveys emotion with a deep sincerity and demonstrates a strong acting ability. You can tell that director Cecilia Thoden van Velzen has given Nazar-Rosen space to explore her emotional journey, as none of her thoughts or movements feel choreographed or predetermined. Thoden van Velzen’s sound design is also extremely effective, vividly evoking crawling bed bugs and humming migraines. The audio helps build climax in the performance as Ariela grows more and more distressed. It would have been more effective, however, if Nazar-Rosen took longer to build the emotion and articulate the moment where she is at her lowest more clearly.
Though the liminal space that Nazar-Rosen creates is true to life, the play would have more dramatic intrigue if the protagonist had an external threat or obstacle to overcome, such as a meeting or social engagement to attend. This would contextualise the narrative, creating a clearer story arc whilst also increasing the stakes of the character’s situation. At present, she exists in a sort of limbo, which limits our connection to the storyline.
With a touching resolution, (I won’t spoil it), Nazar-Rosen wraps up the play with the hopeful message that we are not alone. She encourages others to reach out and help one another to build resilience and strength, facing the demons we have avoided. Overall, her moving depiction of struggle has great promise.
