Instructions For A Teenage Armageddon (Garrick Theatre, London)
Verdict: Teenage angst
The title of this one-woman play by Rosie Day rather mis-sells the content. While it sounds like a spirited call to arms, it is in fact a story of teenage angst; of grief, parental discord, friendships gone wrong and sexual assault. It is, however, frequently funny.
When we first meet teenager Eileen (Charithra Chandran, who played Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton), she is full of peppy bravado and flippancy — even when talking about how her older sister, Olive, died a few years previously after suffering from anorexia.
But then, Eileen’s self-absorption is matched only by her lack of self-awareness, leading to some snortingly, if inappropriately, funny lines — At least the coffin will be light,’ she says as the family make her sister’s funeral arrangements.
The action takes place in Eileen’s bedroom, in Jasmine Swan’s simple but evocative set, beautifully lit by Rory Beaton. There are flashback video inserts with Shelley Conn and Philip Glenister as Eileen’s argumentative mum and dad, and voiceovers from the exasperated Sensible Scout Leader Susan (Maxine Peake having fun).
Charithra Chandran, who played Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton, stars as teenager Eileen – a girl who is full of peppy bravado and flippancy
Eileen’s self-absorption is matched only by her lack of self-awareness, leading to some snortingly, if inappropriately, funny lines
Instructions For a Teenage Armageddon is in fact a story of teenage angst; of grief, parental discord, friendships gone wrong and sexual assault. It is, however, frequently funny
Eileen’s childlike keenness to gain multiple badges with the Scout troop contrasts tellingly with her touching need to fit in with the cool girls when she meets the older Ella (Isabella Pappas, again seen on video inserts) and is dangerously captivated by her.
Gradually we see that under Eileen’s snark there is a vulnerable child who has a darker story to tell, and the cynical teen gives way to a girl making terrible misjudgements about how to behave in the adult world. Ms Chandran brings real emotion to this shocking section.
The play, while uneven and too fond of a cliché, has its heart in the right place, and Ms Chandran gives a warm performance under Georgie Staight’s direction.
***
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