Review: The Treatment

The Almeida's current show is a revival of Martin Crimp's The Treatment, directed by Lyndsey Turner. In short, it goes something like:

New York. A film studio.  A young woman has an urgent story to tell.
But here, people are products, movies are money and sex sells. And the rights to your life can be a dangerous commodity to exploit.

In the viewing, what the The Treatment is, is a brilliantly dark bit of theatre. It explores ideas of stories, authenticity, and ownership, in a manner that is both morally ambiguous and uncomfortably funny. The treatment, as it were, of Anne, who is played brilliantly by Aisling Loftus, is brutally unsympathetic, and as a result it is no surprise when her reality reasserts itself over the film producers who have hitherto tried to exploit her.
The performances are great, particularly Loftus - who is absolutely beguiling as central character Anne - and disintegrating power couple Jennifer (Indira Varma) and Andrew (Julian Ovenden). There is also a great use of a large cast walking in and around the scenes, giving the action a kind of 'behind-the-scenes' feel, entirely appropriate to the subject matter.
The design is striking as well, with sparse sets and bold colours framing the action with a noir-ish vibe, though there are moments when the scene changes jar the pacing a bit, which prevents the show hitting perfection.
Overall, however, The Treatment is a great bit of theatre.
Highly Recommended!

4/5: A darkly funny downward spiral
The Almeida
Until 10th June