Sophie is at her Grandfather’s shiva where her whole family have come together to pay their respects, including her attractive second cousin. Unable to resist his allure, she finds herself in a rather compromising situation. Adorned with songs, impressions, and a unique sense of humour, Sophie Sucks Face presents an unorthodox perspective on relationships that is sure to intrigue and amuse.
Zucker has an undeniably strong stage presence, and a dulcet voice to match.
Zucker has an undeniably strong stage presence, and a dulcet voice to match. As she confides in the audience about thoughts she doesn’t dare say aloud, you are drawn in by her charisma and confidence. One can’t help but compare Zucker’s persona to a naughtier Danielle in Shiva Baby—more unhinged and playful than Rachel Sennott’s character. The crafting of this personality works incredibly well with the narrative, as Sophie plays on the bathos of the situation she finds herself in to great effect.
The singing portions of the performance are catchy, fun and enjoyable to watch; however, their implementation within the show as a whole could be improved to enhance their function in the narrative. This could be achieved by increasing the concision of the songs, making them sharper and thus more comically impactful for the audience. This, I feel, would better represent Zucker’s witty and clever lyrics.
Zucker’s finest moments lie in her imitations, recollections of awkward interactions and audience asides, and it would be a delight if the show revelled in these more. It is a shame that she concludes with a perplexing message that feels disconnected from the rest of the performance, leaving us confused and lamenting her light-hearted storytelling. Moreover, though this may have not been Zucker’s intention, the message that is conveyed through her closing song is rather pessimistic towards the concept of a loyal relationship, undermining its entire premise. This feels like a hollow turn in the play in contrast to the richly textured performance she delivered beforehand that humorously played on religious expectation, Jewish culture and female sexuality.
Overall, Sophie Sucks Face is an intriguing watch that follows a predominantly well-thought-out narrative and showcases impressive acting talent. With an alternative ending and slight re-direction, the play could be elevated to better highlight Zucker’s abilities.
