"Loop" is a thought-provoking debut monologue that delves into the dark undercurrents of infatuation. Tanya-Loretta Dee shines in her portrayal of Bex, a young woman whose sexual fantasies take on a life of their own. As she navigates a complex web of desire and obsession, Dee masterfully conveys the fragile line between fantasy and reality.
The story centers around Bex's tumultuous relationship with James, a middle-class counterpart to her own desires. At first, James represents Bex's ideal fantasy prince, but as their connection frays, Bex's fantasies consume her, driving a wedge between her real life and the people who care about her.
While Dee delivers a compelling performance, she struggles to fully inhabit the complexity of Bex's emotions. The supporting cast fares slightly better, particularly in the portrayal of Bex's distant and disturbed mother, which proves to be the most intriguing aspect of the production.
The set design by Mydd Pharo creates an unsettling atmosphere, but it feels somewhat at odds with Dee's performance. Cheng Keng's lighting design is more effective in establishing a sense of unease, yet even this cannot fully compensate for the script's limitations. Director Sophie Ellerby has the potential to push the production into darker, more intense territory, but ultimately, "Loop" feels like an undercooked exploration of its subject matter.
With only 29 days remaining at Theatre503 in London, those with a taste for psychological drama may find this thought-provoking monologue worth a visit. Just be prepared for some uneven pacing and a lack of intensity that could have elevated the production to greater heights.
The story centers around Bex's tumultuous relationship with James, a middle-class counterpart to her own desires. At first, James represents Bex's ideal fantasy prince, but as their connection frays, Bex's fantasies consume her, driving a wedge between her real life and the people who care about her.
While Dee delivers a compelling performance, she struggles to fully inhabit the complexity of Bex's emotions. The supporting cast fares slightly better, particularly in the portrayal of Bex's distant and disturbed mother, which proves to be the most intriguing aspect of the production.
The set design by Mydd Pharo creates an unsettling atmosphere, but it feels somewhat at odds with Dee's performance. Cheng Keng's lighting design is more effective in establishing a sense of unease, yet even this cannot fully compensate for the script's limitations. Director Sophie Ellerby has the potential to push the production into darker, more intense territory, but ultimately, "Loop" feels like an undercooked exploration of its subject matter.
With only 29 days remaining at Theatre503 in London, those with a taste for psychological drama may find this thought-provoking monologue worth a visit. Just be prepared for some uneven pacing and a lack of intensity that could have elevated the production to greater heights.
I just watched Loop 
and I'm still trying to process it 
Tanya-Loretta Dee is 
amazing as Bex, but I felt like she was missing something 
her character's emotions were hard to read 
and the pacing was a bit all over the place 
Mydd Pharo's set design was super creepy 
but Cheng Keng's lighting was on point 
Sophie Ellerby, I'm rooting for you 
with 29 days left in London, I hope you can bring this production to the next level 
and the supporting cast needs more development too, especially that mom character 
anyway i loved the set design and lighting it was super creepy and eerie 
but yeah director sophie ellerby has potential for sure 
gotta give it another watch tho
. If Sophie Ellerby can really push this story into those darker territories, it could be game-changing. And Tanya-Loretta Dee does shine in her role, even if she doesn’t fully inhabit Bex's emotions at times... that supporting mom's portrayal was a real standout for me 
. I guess what’s tripping me up is how they balance the fantasy and reality, feels kinda inconsistent 
. Would love to see it live with the set design and lighting just right 
️.
!
. It's like when we're chasing something we really want, we get caught up in the excitement and lose sight of what's truly important. I mean, Bex's relationship with James is all about that fantasy world, but at what cost? Her mom's character, on the other hand, shows us how our fears can sometimes become self-fulfilling prophecies... anyway, it just makes me think we gotta be careful not to get too lost in our own fantasies 
. The set design is pretty meh, it's like they took a bunch of dark corridors and said "good enough" 
. And don't even get me started on the script - it's like Sophie Ellerby had some cool ideas but didn't know how to execute them 
. It's still worth a watch if you're into that sorta thing, just don't expect it to blow your mind 
.
. What really disappointed me was how the supporting cast got relegated to the side 
...I wanted more depth in their characters too! Maybe the director just needs a bit more time to perfect it? 
. I think the director has some potential but needs to fine-tune the pacing and maybe even add more tension to really make it pop 
.
. and yeah, the supporting cast did a great job with the mom role. what really bugged me though was how much potential "Loop" had to be more intense, but it just fell flat at times 
! But at the same time, I felt like the pacing was all over the place. Some scenes drag on too long, while others feel rushed. It's like they're trying to fit all these themes and emotions into one 60-minute monologue.
.
- it's uncomfortable, but you can't look away. Tanya-Loretta Dee does an amazing job playing Bex, but sometimes I felt like she was struggling to tap into that raw emotion 
. It feels like they're holding back on some of the darker themes, which would've really taken it to the next level