Bettina Paris writes and co-stars this comedy drama about two sisters dealing with the fallout of alcoholism in the family. Sisyphean Quick Fix, named after Greek mythology’s Sisyphus, doomed to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity, is a tight and thoughtful piece.
In a set of boxes that display glass bottles and other props, Paris (who plays Krista, an aspiring actor living in London) and Tina Rizzo (who plays Pip, left to manage things in Malta) creare a story of sisters trapped in watching their father destroy himself with drink.
The father is never seen but is a shadowy character identified through his actions and decline. At first, the sisters communicate across video chat, Pip trying to force herself into a satisfying domestic situation, and Krista taking refuge in daydreams of Mr Darcy.
It’s an honest piece inspired by Paris’s personal story, with flourishes in the staging (director Nicky Allpress) to bring different locations to life. In an 75 minute duration, it covers a lot of ground, adding humour, sibling tension, and family solidarity.
The worry of having an unstable parent and lives on hold to care and manage the situation is well-defined, with the differences and similarities between the quiet Pip and more boisterous Krista feeling realistic. Their mum is also there in conversations, divorced, but still involved.
The reality of alcohol abuse is often dismissed under a culture that views binge drinking as ‘fun’ and social drinking as somewhat glamorous. In Sisyphean Quick Fix, the sisters know the painful cost of watching their parent self-destruct, to the point that even in deep physical decline, he still literally crawls towards his whisky crutch.
Despite the numerous trigger warnings displayed at the entrance, suggesting a dark and ponderous tale, Sisyphean Quick Fix finds the humour in the situation, especially when Krista comes to join Pip in Malta. A side plot placing Pip in a possibly abusive relationship isn’t fully addressed, but that’s something that could expand with a longer running time.
Displaying strength and sincerity, as well as compassion for alcoholics and those they hurt with their addiction, this play is a mature reflection on a complex subject.
Presented in support of Alcohol Change UK, Sisyphean Quick Fix is running at Riverside Studios until 6 Apr. Tickets here.
3.5 stars
Image credit: Marusia Makhmutova