one4review | On 27, Aug 2026

Michelle Renee Johnson’s Extra Dry is an intensely personal exploration of her relationship with alcohol, charting the journey from those first liberating drinks to the point where drinking begins to take control.

The production is staged around an illuminated bar, an effective and versatile piece of design that also transforms into a hospital bed. Johnson talks directly to us about how she discovered alcohol and the confidence and sociability it initially gave her. The microphone is used for the good times, when drinking makes life seem enjoyable and liberating; when she steps away from the mic, the reality of the blackouts and their consequences kick in.

As her drinking increased, so did the frequency of the blackouts. After a few drinks, Johnson could lose several hours at a time, with no memory of what she has done or what has happened to her. The lights go out when she passes out, leaving us to confront the aftermath with her when they come back on. What initially sounds like an amusing loss of control becomes increasingly disturbing as the consequences emerge.

Among the more shocking revelations is that Johnson sometimes drove home while blacked out, describing herself, with grim irony, as a “good drunk driver”. More often, she depended on friends, and occasionally complete strangers, to get her home. The humour makes some of these stories easier to hear, but also highlights just how dangerous the situation had become.

The result is a remarkably candid performance. Johnson doesn’t simply tell us about addiction; she allows us to experience something of the disorientation and uncertainty that accompanied it. The use of light, darkness, sound and the changing function of the bar gives the story a theatrical dimension that lifts it beyond a straightforward autobiographical monologue.

The beautiful surroundings of Riddles Court deserved a larger audience than the relatively small one in attendance, who nevertheless remained captivated throughout.

A compelling, honest and at times uncomfortable piece of autobiographical theatre, brilliantly performed and imaginatively staged. I would certainly recommend catching it.

****
Reviewed by Howard

Willow Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court

Until 29th August