Ten years ago something awful happened to Presley and Haley. Since then they have actually lived alone in their dead moms and dads’ house, doors bolted against the horrors of the globe. Yet, one night, Presley sees a gorgeous unfamiliar person on the street exterior. And while his sis rests … he invites in their worst problem.
What I located fascinating about this performance was that everybody seemed to have a various interpretation of the tale. For me, I saw this as Presley’s problem played out on phase. Both Hayley and Presley take their sleeping tablets with each other, at the very same time and it is only when Hayley drops off to sleep that madness ensues.
The random unfamiliar person (an illusionist of sorts in a brilliant red sparkly jacket) Cosmo Disney and his rubber gimp costumed buddy Pitchfork compose the evil character of Presley’s nightmares which he calls The Pitchfork Disney. However have they really entered his house or just his desire?
I felt they were children, residing in a fantasy globe– one where they were grown up and cohabiting, consuming only chocolate. When Hayley rests she sucks on a dummy and it is stated that she ‘sleeps constantly’– is this due to her drug or is she in fact a child that wanders in and out of the problem. Also the sexual offense element is childish, with the perpetrator obstructing his finger in and out of her mouth whilst making groaning noises– is this since Presley is so young he does not understand exactly how sex functions?
Philip Ridley’s play is perfectly created in poetic language and with substantial talks that make you want to stand and praise after every one. Vomit generating at times with representations of eating live cockroaches and frying snakes live before consuming them– The Pitchfork Disney is a difficult play to stomach at times. But it is also incredibly funny.
Trigger cautions noted for the play include terrible language, references to death and murder, homophobic and racist language, references to youngster misuse, depiction of sexual assault, depiction of drug abuse, vomiting and emotional distress, so this isn’t one for the quickly disturbed.
The young cast ( Elizabeth Connick , Ned Costello , William Robinson are all fantastic in what should be a laborious piece to do night after evening. It must have likewise been a problem to discover the extensive script yet there is something so stunning regarding its writing that it appears to just flow.
The Pitchfork Disney is an incredibly effective play. I do not recognize if my analysis of it was exact but it was mine which is the elegance of wonderful creating similar to this– it allows the customer to open their creative imagination and go on their own 90 minute trip.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
West End Wilma
The Pitchfork Disney plays at King’s Head Theater up until 4 October 2025