KAREN, The Other Palace review

Things are not going well for the protagonist of KAREN. The show opens as she is unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend of four years, Joe, on a birthday trip to Alton Towers. Unexpected heartbreak as she’s halfway through eating a calippo and dressed in a pac-a-mac is just the beginning - as Joe starts dating her office nemesis, Karen.

What unfolds over the next 60 minutes is a triumphantly funny, laugh-out-loud break up story that takes us from heartbreak to life-affirming revival, with a healthy dose of chaos along the way.  

KAREN, Sarah Cameron-West, photography by Dylan Woodley.

KAREN is equal parts comedy and raw, relatable emotion. Writer and protagonist Sarah Cameron-West gives a mesmerising, high-octane performance with comedic timing perfectly on cue and a vulnerability that has the whole audience rooting for her. Paired with Oliver McNally’s cleverly timed lighting cues and Sarah Spencer’s infectious break up soundtrack, KAREN is a joyous and hilarious journey of self-discovery and the importance of learning your true worth.

We cycle through some of the classic stages of a break up – a crisis of confidence, new hobbies and tragic first dates – but what sets KAREN apart from other stories of female heartbreak is the protagonist’s refreshing, unfiltered rage. Her anger is her alter-ego, an alternative dialogue that bubbles beneath the surface as she lives through what would be most people’s worst nightmare: seeing Joe and Karen together in the office.

KAREN, Sarah Cameron-West, photography by Dylan Woodley.

Sarah Cameron-West’s writing and delivery is pitch perfect. She seamlessly breaks the fourth wall and brings the audience into the performance, turning them into the characters in the script. Through her part of each one-sided conversation, these figures are brought to life – Stacey, the long-suffering best friend whose break-up advice is quickly dismissed, Tony, the frustrating manager who gives opaque feedback and responds awkwardly to her attempts at banter, and Joe, her hopeless ex-boyfriend. It is a one-woman show bursting with talent and infectious energy.

At only an hour long, KAREN is a rapid-fire narrative that squeezes a huge amount in to its action-packed script. It is an enjoyable rollercoaster of emotions, but the protagonist’s happy ending feelslike it’s all wrapped up a bit too neatly. However, there is huge potential in the script and room for much more – and I’m sure this won’t be the last we hear of it.

KAREN is at The Other Palace until Sunday 23rd March. Find out more here.

Review by Ellen Hodgetts