Writer: Sadie Clark
Director: Madelaine Moore
Can the algorithms of online dating apps fix all of the problems in your life? They should be able to, shouldn’t they?
Sadie Clark’s one-woman romantic comedy tries to answer this question. Originally longlisted for the Tony Craze Award in 2018 and going on to stage sell-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre, Clark is bringing back Algorithms for a stint at Park Theatre’s Park90 space.
Giving off fringe energy from the moment you step into the venue, the stage is adorned with a copious amount of gold streamers hanging from the ceiling, accompanied by a couple of gold boxes on the floor. Clark, the star of the show, enters the space, bringing a buoyant, stand-up energy to her performance.
Brooke’s life is completely upturned when her five-year plan is rudely interrupted by her girlfriend unexpectedly breaking up with her. Thankfully, she works at a company which is developing a new hustle-infused dating app. Now that she is suddenly single, Brooke finds herself tasked with finding love through the algorithms of the app. But how successful can this approach be?
The show is a hilarious romp, with Clark careening from relatable anecdotes about her overbearing mother and the troublesome issues of dating in the modern age. Jumping from date to date like it’s a part-time job, Clark perfectly captures the mundane exhaustion that the search for love can easily turn into. Her quick and often hilarious detours into the impersonations of her mother and ex-girlfriend are punchy and well-executed.
Madelaine Moore’s directing choices keep the focus on the story, holding back from overtaking Clark’s exceptional performance. Moments of brevity capture the audience’s imaginations, with laughter and knowing nods abounding.
Very much in the same vein as Fleabag, Sadie Clark’s Algorithms is a hilarious and heartfelt romp about finding who you are meant to be in your late 20s and all of the relatable pressures that come with it.
Runs until 11 May 2024
