Review: WAKARESASEYA or How to End Things: Each With His or Her Own Axe to Grind

©️WAKARESASEYA or How to End Things Production

WAKARESASEYA or How to End Things is a taut black comedy that unfolds beneath a single roof, where three roommates harbour secrets so corrosive they begin to erode Mia and Iago’s already fragile relationship. By the end, each character’s hidden truths are laid bare, even the most elusive Seb, yet, in a final and unexpected twist, Mia and Iago’s shared secret seems to preserve their bond and love. Nothing truly ends; instead, the web of deception simply knots itself tighter.

From its opening moments, the play is filled with secrecy. And where there are secrets, there are lies — lies that generate constant mystery and chaos.

Mia and Iago are in a relationship, currently sharing a London flat. To ease the financial burden, Iago invites a new roommate, Seb, into their home. For Mia, Seb is a weird stranger with unsettling eccentricity, so she shows resistance from the very beginning. Sensing Mia’s mistrust, Seb makes an effort to get closer, eventually uncovering secrets that she cannot share with Iago and may well shatter her relationship with her boyfriend. As tensions mount, relationships change, and hidden secrets come to light, the story accelerates towards an absurd but inevitable climax, delivering a series of wonderful twists.

Performances by Moana Doll, Pablo Laguna, and Shelton Wong are masterful, with their brilliant control over pacing, comic timing, and emotional release. They successfully keep the audience in a constant state of curiosity, with narrative turns that are surprising without feeling contrived.

In summary, WAKARESASEYA is a perfect sharp dark comedy that balances mystery and tension with absurdist humour and blends all these into a thoroughly entertaining show.

★★★★★

For more information, please visit: https://camdenfringe.com/events/wakaresaseya-or-how-to-end-things/

Credits

Cast: Moana Doll, Pablo Laguna, Shelton Wong