Forget Me, Please
Presented by Sophie Davis
At Old Fitz Theatre
From the moment the lights dimmed at The Old Fitz, audiences were captivated by the screeching sound of an anxiety inducing track followed by immediate ear piercing silence, setting the tone for a tense and thought provoking evening about relationships, trauma, and the heartbreaking notion that most people have experienced at least once in their life – I wish I could forget you.
Written by Sophie Davis and Directed by Jessica Dicosta, the production tells the story of two people, Andi and Sasha, who meet by coincidence in triage after both suffering concussions. As the story progresses, they pair develop into friends, and eventually to lovers, whose experiences are shaped by Andi’s unravelling post-concussion symptoms. Beneath the surface, it explores themes of co-dependency, trauma bonding, and the effects of mental health on relationships. These ideas come to life most clearly through Andi’s recollection of experiences in its non linear form, inviting audiences to share the complexity of her brain.
At the centre of the story, Kala Gare and Shannen Alyce Quan produce raw, emotional and witty performances as they recount the experiences of Andi and Sasha. Through times of hardship, love, play, and vulnerability, these two actresses’ insanely strong chemistry carry the story of Andi and Sasha in a way that is truly breathtaking to the soul, and devastating to the heart, whilst still bringing moments of joy and laughter to the audience.
The set contains a pair of white boxes that the cast move and shape to set different locations, creating seamless set changes that are equally impressive by design and simplistic by execution. Similarly the wardrobe, lighting, and props also remain in all white for the majority of the show and is a reinstating factor of Andi’s supposed insanity. The use of colour in the conclusion of the piece is a subtle yet powerful reminder that sometimes it’s the things we love that drive us mad, and it may be healthier to forget than to hold on.
Music and sound wrap around the production beautifully, adding a level of intensity to the moments of psychosis that otherwise may have been missed. Whilst minimal in its use, the music involved in the scenes and scene changes are an essential world building tool that should not be overlooked.
Throughout the performance, the audience responds with sharp inhales, giggles, silence, and visible emotion. The moment of a seemingly innocent spider kill sparked a particularly interesting reaction from the audience, as they along with Sasha felt the betrayal performed by Andi, foreshadowing her later (or earlier) action, showing just how successfully the cast connects with the room.
Altogether, Forget Me, Please is a moving and thought provoking piece of independent theatre. Its greatest strength is its simplicity in conveying its story through relatable and real world experiences. By the time the final bows arrive, the production leaves its audience with emotional stimulation as they leave pondering what they would do if they had the option to forget the person that broke their heart the most.
Forget Me, Please is a gut wrenching yet charming reminder of the human experience regarding mental health from both the perspective of the person experiencing it and their loved ones. For audiences who enjoy an intimate and relatable story, this is a production well worth stepping into.
Forget Me, Please is running at the Old Fitz Theatre from Friday the 4th of September to Friday the 11th of September. For more information and to book tickets, head to https://sydneyfringe.com/events/forget-me-please/
Review by Elleirah Moon
To book tickets to Forget Me, Please, please visit https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/whats-on-1.
Photographer: Lucy Parakhina
