Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's 2015 revenge drama 'The Wasp' returns to London's Southwark Playhouse, but despite its baroque plot twists, the production lacks a killer sting. The play reunites former school bully Carla (Serin Ibrahim) with her victim Heather (Cassandra Hercules) decades after a traumatic incident of abuse.
Plot and Performances
Heather, now a wealthy professional, lures Carla to a meeting under the guise of reconciliation. But Heather harbors a dark ulterior motive. Carla, by contrast, is struggling: she is pregnant for the fifth time, trapped in an unhappy partnership, and barely making ends meet. The tables have turned, and Heather fires sly broadsides at her former tormentor.
Director James Haddrell's production includes plenty of rug-pulling twists, though none feel believable or charged with genuine jeopardy. The performances are capable, but the presentation remains stilted. The first act ends prematurely, while the longer second half seems written in a different mode from the stylized first.
Stylistic Choices
Initially, scenes are replayed from different angles, with waspish buzzing to indicate dangerous moments. However, these non-naturalistic elements disappear after the interval, leaving the parts detached. A metaphor of the tarantula hawk wasp—which eats its victims' insides—applies both to the bully's violence and the bullied's internalized anger.
Class and privilege play a role in the dynamic between Heather and Carla, while the play touches on Carla's traumatic home life and the abuse she experienced herself. Can this excuse her actions? And can the bullied ever find catharsis, even after revenge? These interesting questions are obfuscated by busy plotting.
Verdict
As a revenge thriller with Hitchcockian aspirations, 'The Wasp' is original but ultimately lacks enough of a killer sting. At Southwark Playhouse, London, until 30 May.
