Review – Bitch Boxer
Chloe is in the middle of preparations for her boxing match, the one that will decide whether she makes it to the 2012 Olympic Games, when she learns of the sudden death of her father – the man who was also her coach and mentor. Trying to maintain her discipline while managing her grief, Chloe struggles to overcome her insecurities and assert herself both in the boxing ring and in the wider world.
Bitch Boxer is something of a black comedy. Its charming hilarity and understated simplicity will remind you of The Inbetweeners, but there’s also this undercurrent of anxiety, heartbreak and tragedy throughout the play which casts the action in a shadowy light. This duality never threatens to overwhelm the play, though, because there is just enough structure to the plot that it all feels of-a-piece (and just enough buoyancy that it doesn’t feel contrived). And, through it all, Holly Augustine is boundlessly energetic. She has not only has the physicality to pull off the role but also the sort of comedic timing and gusto needed to sell every laugh. The sole performer in the play, she still manages to occupy the stage with her presence.
Bitch Boxer is, simply put, outstandingly good theatre. If you’re looking for strong, engaging, funny and triumphant theatre, then you could hardly make a safer bet.
