Created by Valentina Tóth
Review by Aislinn McSharry
Valentine Tóth’s FATAL FLOWER is dubbed as “an ode to the hysterical woman”: an exhilarating, unpredictable watch, with opera, sketch comedy, and political messages incorporated, Tóth’s one-woman show is an exciting theatrical experience.
Tóth introduces herself to the audience, then shares with us her perfected list of “hysterical women”, larger-than-life characters we are entertained by over the next hour. Charismatic, and embracing the caricature, Tóth’s performances are bizarre yet brilliant, and each character is compelling. A standout Esmerelda, is a Spanish migrant in The Netherlands, who suffers the consequences of the Dutch childcare benefits scandal, and then kills herself and her whole family in a “hysterical” state. Tóth’s zany, vengeful American woman, performing a song about her fiancé’s affair is particularly hilarious, while a retelling of a sexual assault scandal from the perspective of the victim, originally told on the news as a joke, poignantly highlights social issues in The Netherlands.
Intertwined are glorious, and truly staggering pieces of opera, that show Tóth’s talent at its most magnificent. Softer sections, like Tóth’s song about Friesland, a love letter to her homeland, are welcome interludes; especially at moments like this, it felt that genuine aspects of Tóth character were imbued into the work. FATAL FLOWER seems to be a deeply personal theatrical expression, under the guise of multiple different characters, wherein Tóth creates a unique intimacy with her audience.
In its whirlwind of chaotic characters and unpredictability, there were moments when audiences were unsure what this show amounted to, and extremities of Tóth eccentricity, felt a little ostracising; perhaps a few more softer shades could have aided this. Nonetheless, the show’s penultimate section, showing Tóth as Medusa was a powerful embrace of the show’s feminist themes.
Tóth’s FATAL FLOWER is a unique medium of theatre-making, and a truly special watch. With an open-mind and a willingness to experience a whole range of perfectly curated chaos, audiences can experience Tóth’s brilliance at its best.
Truly Special
Fatal Flower ran at Summerhall – Main Hall
Running time: Seventy-Five minutes without interval
Review by Aislinn McSharry (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Orly is entering into her final year as an English Literature student at the University of Edinburgh; a degree filled more with her involvement in student theatre than her commitment to academia. Orly’s involvement in theatre ranges from Shakespeare to musicaltheatre, with a particular interest in modern drama and new writing, which are the leading inspirations for (hopefully) a future career in the theatre. Orly believes Fringe is an extremely exciting and affirming environment for these passions, and can’t wait to see the promising work coming up this year.
