A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List has a strong foundation that lets itself down in the details.
One-woman show A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List draws you into a world of mental illness and dysfunctional living through a hectic stream of consciousness. Main character Phoebe is struggling to get her to-do list done when a pink fluffy monster appears and is both a help and a hindrance.
A unique concept that has a lot of potential, the play is at its best when there is time to take in the beautifully poetic writing. However, much of Eleanor May Blackburn’s delivery is directed to the upper corners of the room. Eye contact and a greater connection with the audience would have done a lot to bring them into the show. Instead, there is a gulf between the stage and the audience that feels hard to traverse.
There is a raw honesty to Blackburn’s performance, with relatable portrayals of task fatigue and isolation. However, the depiction of Phoebe comes across as childlike due to exaggerated facial expressions and vocal interjections that resemble a babyish tone. Whether intentional or not, it is jarring and makes it difficult to connect with the only character on stage.
Genuinely funny moments can sometimes get lost in the rapid-fire delivery. The writing is tight and includes glimpses of witty observations, but the whirlwind nature of A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List does not give them the room they need to land.
You mightalso like
Technically, A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List is well put together, with clever use of sound effects and voicemails that speak to a world outside of the room we see on stage. In that way, you are drawn into Phoebe’s world. That experience is undoubtedly meant to be uncomfortable, but there needed to be some bridge of connection for the story to land in the way it wants to.
A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List aims high and tells a much-needed story, but it lacks the finesse to land everything it attempts.
