Tipsy at The Cockpit Review

“Hi, sorry” — words uttered time and time again by Maria, the protagonist of Tipsy, the new comedic play at The Cockpit theatre from Tuesday 13 June through to Saturday 17 June 2023.

Image: Tipsy, rehearsals. Photo by Phoebe Wingrove

Tipsy is a witty comedy about a woman getting a little too drunk while getting her nails done. You may think you know what you’re getting into with this 90-minute play at The Cockpit by this description, however, the story quickly turns on its head and brings the audience upside-down with it. Tipsy is written and produced by the 2019 Birmingham Film Festival winner Edie Walwyn. Walwyn has previously worked on the likes of The Frogs: Recroaked at the Stockwell Playhouse and SUFUKU, put on at the Birmingham Film Festival.

Tipsy feels like an amalgamation of two different plays viewed concurrently. At once, the audience is watching the inner workings of an overworked, overly-apologetic, and a tad (re: incredibly) selfish woman living in London. Simultaneously, the audience is taken on a journey through the thoughts and workings of Mariana, the nail technician who is working on Maria’s nails. As Maria unravels throughout the play, getting increasingly drunk with an appetite for oversharing, Mariana is purposeful in her opinions. The audience comes to see that these women’s feelings of social pressure, societal anger, and loneliness are not nearly as isolated as the characters may think.

Image: Tipsy, rehearsals. Photo by Phoebe Wingrove

Tipsy can be viewed as an exploration of capitalist fatigue. This satirical comedy speaks to the ways in which isolation and overworking can push people to the edge. As Walwyn states, “We will bring joy to our audience with comedy and bring impact through tragedy and the social issues which the play highlights such as misogyny, STIs, and mental health.” Tipsy does just this, speaking to issues of the modern day through whip-smart dialogue and acting from Lima Amil (Mariana) and Zara Walwyn (Maria).

The play opens with Maria making her way through London, desperately seeking directions from passers-by, to no avail. The striking and comedic tone of the play is set from the very beginning as Maria pleads for strangers' help in finding the nail salon. Finally locating the nail salon, Maria is offered wine; She begins to drink… and drink… and drink some more. Her words begin flowing as quickly as the receptionist can pour her another glass.

 The second act opens as Maria somehow ends up at the same nail salon under a new name a couple of weeks later. Mariana works on her nails yet again, as Maria realises she may be more connected to the other patrons and nail technicians than she initially thought. Maria begins to spiral as she realises her life is connected to each of the other people in the salon in strange and triggering ways. Simultaneously, Mariana’s patience seems to grow immensely for Maria the second time around. The pair find themselves connecting as the play divulges into utter, joyous absurdity. Tipsy uses the comedic form to speak to sobering topics of the modern day such as mental health, sexual health, and gendered pressure.

Image: Tipsy, rehearsals. Photo by Phoebe Wingrove

While Tipsy finished its run at The Cockpit on 17 June, find the rest of the summer programming here. 

Find the lovely cast and crew below. Check them out and see what’s next for them:

Writer and Producer: Edie Walwyn

Director: Zara Walwyn

Production Consultant: Ben Chamberlain

Production Designer: Constance Villemot

Lighting Designer: Edward Justham

Stage Manager: Francesca Osimani

Cast:

Maria              Zara Walwyn

Valerie             Louise Nicholls

Marina           Lima Amil

Charlie            Jac Norris

Connor             Atticus Mitra

Vanessa            Kinga Dulka

Naomi/Susie    Tahira Tova

Jo                     Nick MacDuff

Words by Sara Bellan