Upon collecting my tickets for
A very ambitious outing for such a young company yet one they pulled off with relish
The Dip is presented by a new company called Milk and Blood. This particular production is the brainchild of Eifion Ap Cadno. It tells the story of two friends who, having consumed a large quantity of drinks (and also something considerably stronger), excitedly giggle about baba ghanoush. This leads Al, played by writer Eifion Ap Cadno, to suddenly find himself with the desire to kiss his friend Nick. It is at this precise moment that the trip begins and we are led into a rabbit hole quite unlike any other.
Eifion is captivating in the role of Al. He is on stage for the majority of the show and he has the difficult task of attempting to hold the emotional core of the show in place whilst madness reigns around him. His look of utter bewilderment is spot on and we genuinely do feel for Al as he tries to explore his sexuality whilst on a high like no other!
Max Young is adorable as Nick. Nick is witty and flirtatious but it is as Nick’s female alter ego Nicole where Max truly shines! Nicole is sincere, yet utterly insane. The looks of disgust and longing she throws towards Al are a joy to watch.
Nick Mauldin strikes real presence in all his characters but it is as the terrifyingly odd Captain Flatfish where he reveals himself (maybe a bit too much) as an accomplished performer. Nick totally steals the show in the last few scenes.
Also playing multiple roles is Iulia Isar. She pulls them all off with absolute relish but special mention must go to her portrayal of Lips. As the first character in the hallucination she got the tone spot-on and so we, the audience, were more than happy to go along for the ride.
William Shackleton is utterly barmy and hilarious as the human embodiment of the aubergine emoji in the role of a policeman - Officer Baba. His interactions with the audience was a sheer delight. Sophie Hammer and Isaac Murphy complete the ensemble. Both played a variety of comic roles whilst being key components of the on-stage band, and they had great singing voices to boot! Sophie is also the musical director and did a great job when equipment failed, ensuring the show continued without hesitation. All the music was exceptionally polished so it’s a testament to her work!
Nearly the entire cast doubled up as band members and so would be at the back of the stage playing drums or guitar when not performing, but yet still performing. Even the non-characters had character! Eifion's writing is extremely clever and he knows how to keep an audience entertained but there is also a collaborative feel to this performance and everylne involved has clearly helped shape this show into the madcap story it is now.
The Dip is the LGBT+ version of Dude, Where’s My Car? we never knew we wanted but now that it’s here we cannot imagine life without it. Nothing makes sense and yet there is logic to everything. Even as a concept it is utterly bonkers yet completely brilliant. They had to go hard or go home so they went hard and it truly paid off. Sam Edmunds, director, and Becca White, designer, have done a wonderful job with their staging. It feels as if the show was always meant for this space. Nothing feels out of place and yet most things are. The entire auditorium was a colouful joyous mess by the curtain call and it was all the better for it. As an audience member it felt like I had actually been on a strange journey. The songs also were well written and there is one particular lyric I fear I may never get out of my head.
The energy was exceptionally high from start to finish. It was clear the ensemble were having a great time and so, by default, the audience did too. I found myself smiling from ear-to-ear throughout.
The Dip is a very ambitious outing for such a young company yet one they pulled off with relish. Milk and Blood is founded by East 15 alumni and the cast was made up of students past and present. This production is a testament to their training and should be one which their teachers are proud of.
