Review of ‘Tarantula’: “A truthful web of lies”

Georgie Henley stars in this gripping one-woman thriller dealing with the effects of psychological strain and personal growth. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if this biting exploration of mental health made him catch the bug.

There’s nothing you can do to hide from trauma – it will keep finding you until you finally confront it. Probably nobody was expecting that to happen last night at the Arcola Theatre, as Philip Ridley’s seemingly harmless one-woman piece began to unroll. Everything felt very wholesome – even childish. But enticing, nonetheless.

Young teenage girl falls for young teenage boy. They have a meet-cute moment while volunteering at a home for elderly people (that probably helped boost their chances). They go on a date: awkward walk, more awkward small talk… electrifying first kiss… It all appears to be going so well… until it doesn’t – and its romcom vibes fade away to turn into the most piercing depiction of real-life horror.

You just can’t see it coming. One moment, you’re charmed by the innocence of an everyday, relatable love story; the next, the most unexpected misfortune takes place. Overdramatic twists rarely are an useful tool when trying to concoct a compelling, credible recount. These ones don’t feel as such, though. Instead, they land as a most honest, accurate portrayal of the volatility of our existence.

Ridley succeeds at keeping the viewer hooked all throughout. His understanding of timing and pacing is quite impeccable. It’s fairly easy to connect with the character from the very start – and practically impossible not to. We experience her journey as if part of our own. When it commences, we’re captivated by the purity of her intentions (I never said we were kindred spirits…).

We want her to be happy – because, in some way, her goals have now become ours. We completely invest ourselves into her quest. And it’s precisely at that very bit that the ugliest side of reality takes the stand. And just like that, we find ourselves broken by the same harrowing sorrow and anger she’s inundated by. From then on, she will walk on a new path that will redefine her destiny. And though she must do it on her own – she will not be the only one taking that hike.

Delivered with galvanizing verity and flair, actress Georgie Henley gives a remarkable performance that exudes pathos, power and likability. Not only is her transformation from role to role absolutely jaw-dropping (turning herself into a completely different person -gender included- by only relying on the strength of her acting), but also providing the protagonist with a full emotional development – making audiences grasp and savour every little speck of her essence, and be taken by both her sweetness and pungency as if ours were the eyes of a caring friend.

Poignant, enchanting and consecutively haunting, Tarantula is far from stinging its crowd for an evening they’ll spit venom about. Instead, they will be taken on an uneven, fast-moving ride packed with intrigue and excitement – oozing memorability through its clever writing and enthralling rendition. Though still a few steps away from a wrapped-up piece (the absence of a better honed final act does leave you with a sense of incompletion), the show still features enough robustness to make of it a safe gamble. It’s a story filled with shocking elements – and it’s likely to bring you to that state at more than one point.

All pictures credit to Kate Hockenhull.

Tarantula plays at London’s Arcola Theatre until 25 January. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara