Vico @ Burton Taylor Studio

Vico is a sharp new play written and directed by Oxford student Douglas Taylor.

Playing at the Burton Taylor Theatre, the intimate studio space provides the perfect setting for this concise one-act play. It is always heartening to see original work from a young new writer and Taylor has come up with a well-written script with an intriguing plot that offer plenty of surprises.

It is set in the consulting room of leading psychologist Finn — who beneath her ultra-professional manner appears to have just as much emotional baggage as her patients. Kimberly Sadovich gives a commanding performance as the vulnerable therapist who meets her emotional and intellectual nemesis when she begins to treat the engaging sociopath Vico.

Though there is a cast of four, the play is in essence a two-hander. It is a duel of wits wherein the mysterious patient seems determined and compelled to unhinge her poor doctor with unremitting attacks on her personal frailties. Sarah Abdoo is both maddening and electrifying as the relentless Vico. In smaller roles James Baird and Jonas Hoersch give solid support as the therapist’s husband and her office assistant. I found Baird’s scenes important structurally as essential moments of calm to punctuate the high drama of the therapy battles.

Equally critical to the balance of the piece was its excellent electronic soundscape created by Alex Mogull. His accomplished yet unfussy soundtrack sensitively complemented the highly dramatic yet eerie plot of the play.

Freya Moffat’s set also worked well for the production, combining the commonplace with surreal touches — it was simple but subtly unnerving.

With a running time of just over an hour Vico packs in a lot of questions but provides very few answers. It is elusive and probing theatre for people who like to think for themselves.

Vico
Burton Taylor Studio
Until Saturday
Box office: 01865 305305 oxfordplayhouse.com