The C Word is a tragi-comic one-woman show based on a very serious subject. The writer and performer Emma Hart based the script on her own battle with cancer and how she needed (in her own words) a bloody good sense of humour to get through it.

There are snapshots of character Zoe's typical single girl London life; clubbing, boozing, dating and avoiding her 'smother'. The play moves into the world of likeable Zoe's friend, colleagues and fellow commuters on her route to work. It's easy to shudder with her as she avoids Simon from accounts with halitosis, feel nauseous with her when she stumbles into work with the hangover from hell, and laugh secretly alongside her as she skips out from work early to go to the doctor's, advantageously getting some retail therapy on the way. Zoe receives her diagnosis.

Emma Hart cleverly juxtaposes the harsh reality of Zoe's choices and treatment with popular icons of today. She fantasises herself into a version of Deal or No Deal, with her potential boxes containing various survival rates according to how she continues her lifestyle and if she chooses chemotherapy. Her dream box, though, is that her cancer will magically disappear, which even in her fantasy she cannot choose over the safer banker's deal. Her chemotherapy treatment becomes 'Big Bugger's diary room' and her first session of treatment is under Big Bugger's commands. As if in a bar, Zoe is seen downing test-tube shots while the voice-over explains chirpily the horrifying side-effects of each cocktail of drugs.

There is, however, a slightly too-stagey feel about the show. Over-use of clumsy props. At times it is self-indulgent, in terms of script, acting and the direction. The delivery of many of the lines remains at the same level throughout most of the show which doesn't do justice to the script, and unfortunately there are one too many one-liner gags. Often the acting doesn't appear to match the pace of the script, and at times it moves into bad stand-up with the delivery. However the moments where Zoe removes the brave comic face she wears to consider the shitty path fate has sent are performed sensitively and delicately by Emma Hart.

The C Word is, unashamedly, a chick lit novel on stage. It's easy to empathise with the clumsy, quirky heroine attempting to battle cancer while watching Big Brother and gossiping about NHS interior decorating. This is a funny and eccentric script that encourages laughter at some of the worst fears.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Charlotte Claypole – Doctor Nurse. Emma Hart – Zoe. Voice Overs (alpha order) - Charlotte Claypole, Peter Craze, Amber Elliot, Graeme John.

Company Credits: Writer – Emma Hart. Director – Aisling Zambon. Technician - Alyssa Watts. Stage Manager – Jane Kalsler. Graphics – Holly Glauert. Production Company – Queen of Arts. Thanks to: Richard Fry, Donna-Marie Janson, Neil Suarez, Johann Buckingham, Cally Taylor, Karen Palmer, Julia Montague, Malcolm Daley, Jimmy Harrie, Megan Finlay, Grange Pub Ealing. Camden Fringe Credits: Directors (alpha order): Zena Barrie, Michelle Flower. Box Office: Etcetera Theatre - Malcolm Keen; Liberties - Martin Donnelly.

END

(c) Jemma Gross 2007

reviewed Saturday 18 August 2007 / Etcetera Theatre

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com