The Late Utopians

The Late Utopians is a dramatic monologue in which a journalist investigates underground rave culture and romance against the backdrop of an unraveling America. The political class issues are interesting, and there is enough substance in the story to keep the piece engaging.

Lilly Walker impressively carries the show, doing all the voices, and there is some really nice acting in the shifts between characters themselves. The minimal set works well with the monologue form, keeping the focus on Walker and the story.

Technically, though, it needs some polish. More awkwardly, a very loud show next door repeatedly intruded on the performance, leaving Walker to force herself through an otherwise engaging piece. It is difficult to judge the atmosphere of a monologue about underground culture when the atmosphere from next door is doing half the work.

There is a good show in here, particularly in the acting and story. With some refinement, it could become a very good dramatic monologue.

Runs 5–17 August and 19–30 August at 2:10pm.