one4review | On 19, Aug 2025

The Alchemy of Sadness is one of those Fringe shows that feels small in scale but huge in impact. It takes place in the pressure cooker world of fine dining PR, but in reality it’s about power, class, and the quiet ways people break under impossible systems.

At the centre is Thiago, played by Oscar Fabela. He’s clearly talented, but from the moment he steps on stage you sense the uphill battle – he’s not from the “right background,” and no amount of skill seems enough to unlock the doors held shut by privilege. Opposite him is Liam (Zachary Story), his boss and tormentor. Story balances charm and cruelty in a way that makes every encounter unpredictable and quietly menacing.

Then there is Kristen Tarragó, who is nothing short of magnetic. She shifts effortlessly between Aurora, the clipped and polished HR rep, and Mari, Thiago’s confidante and only real ally. Her ability to embody both cold bureaucracy and genuine warmth gives the play its emotional heartbeat.

The three actors work seamlessly together, even in the scene changes – props are moved and reset with such slick choreography that it almost feels like part of the storytelling itself. Under Leticia Mora’s direction, the whole piece brims with tension. It’s sharp, unsettling, and deeply human – a reminder that sometimes the most brutal battles aren’t fought in public, but behind closed doors and with no witnesses.

****

Reviewed by Rona

theSpace@Niddry Street – Upper Theatre

11.10 to 12.10

Until 23rd August