Dublin Fringe Festival 2024: Bitch

Bitch by Marty Breen. Imahe Sophie O'Donovan

*****

If you don’t pick up on the subtleties in Bitch early on, it’ll likely tear your soul out. Even if you do Marty Breen’s one person, musical monologue is likely to emotionally eviscerate you. It all looks innocuous. A cross between a show tunes singalong at Marie’s Crisis alternating with a stand-up comedy routine. Visually, it’s a little juvenile. Suzie Cummins’s cabaret pink lights for the piano and masculine blue for the comedy reinforcing Breen’s gender switching throughout. But hesitation as the cymbal fizzes and outbursts of excessive rage hint at bravado. At dark, unsettling themes. Themes that eventually come to the forefront. But by the time they become clear, it’s too late. Bitch has trapped you in a vice like grip you will not be able to escape from. Nor will you likely want to.

Like a twenty-first century, R-rated Victoria Wood, Breen’s impressive musical and vocal skills sees them setting to song a variety of ideas and experiences. Juxtaposed and complimented by a stand up routine in which an incel looking, needs-to-be-more-masculine comedian talks about his love life. For a time, it feels like little more than a showcase reel to attract agents, highlighting Breen’s considerable musical, vocal, comedic and performative talents. But those early subtleties come back to haunt. Director Jeda de Brí doing a sterling job creating a safe space for Breen to flourish, and facilitating that challenging transition from lightweight to soul stirring. Bitch becoming a powerful exploration of sexual abuse, and of how women are conditioned to internalise blame especially for things they’re not responsible for. True, it follows the Netflix redemption formula with insight provided by an all knowing pain in the ass. Yet as the a cappella finale brings it all home, with its head nod to Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves, the hairs on the back of your neck rise as Breen bears their soul. Bold, brave, and oft times brilliant, Bitch is a blisteringly breathtaking experience. But Breen is even better. Not to be missed.

Bitch, written, composed and performed by Marty Breen, runs at Bewley’s Café Theatre until Sept 15 as part of Dublin Fringe Festival 2024.

For more information visit Bewley’s Café Theatre or Dublin Fringe Festival 2024.