Dark, drunken and drugged out, ‘Ablutions’ charges the audience with imagining themselves as a dead-end bartender in Hollywood, drinking themselves into oblivion. With a biting, bleak script and clever use of live music to convey mood, ‘Ablutions’ takes us on a convincing journey into the underbelly of American life, while the ending provides just the tiniest glimmer of hope through self-awareness. The supporting cast are particularly strong, creating a parade of horribly believable losers. The nihilistic attitude to life won’t be to everyone’s taste, however, and the second person narration clashes with the standard dramatic action. Despite this, ‘Ablutions’ is an engaging, twisted tale of bitter self-discovery and how day to day failures can overwhelm you.

Assembly Roxy, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Andrew Bell]