one4review | On 18, Aug 2024

It’s Gigi’s 29th birthday and what better way to spend it than being in sun drenched Costa Rica. With so much to see and do, it just seems like she has landed in paradise until events take an unforeseen and disturbing twist.

Gigi’s on the beach and is drawn to the handsome men surfing nearby, she follows them back to the surfing school and decides to take some lessons. She is immediately drawn to Jose the surfing instructor and they instantly hit it off. Gigi and Jose spend the next two weeks together, they go horse riding and whale watching before he takes her back to his house on his own plot of land but it’s not as glamorous as it seems. During the visit she is shown how to kill a chicken but when Jose comes in with amorous intentions and with chicken feathers on his hands, it’s a bit off putting!

On her last day she is invited to spend dinner with friends George and Billy but states she wants to spend it with Jose, however, when she discovers Jose is not exactly being the ideal boyfriend, she reluctantly accepts. After dinner, she heads into town with Billy and hits the drink hard. What happens next is completely unexpected and the story suddenly becomes emotionally serious and shocking as she falls apart right in front of you.

The majority of the story seems very normal until the unexpected ending, Gigi delivers a powerful performance with the assistance of a cello player in the background throughout. The perfectly timed pauses with only the cello playing are very moving giving pause for thought and reflection leaving the audience in a sombre mood when leaving.

***
Reviewed by Steve
Underbelly Bristo Square – Daisy
19.15 (1hr)
Until 26th August