My overall impression
Flesh Eating Tiger captures the heartbreak, humor and also absurdity of what brings two people together in a relationship, especially if those two people seemingly are all wrong for each other. And with the added complication of addiction.
Playing with form, setting, and theatricality the piece soars in the questions it raises not only on themes of alcoholism and love but also theatre making itself. How does one tell a story? How does one capture what brings people together? How does one put reason and rhyme to something that is so without logic aka falling in love with an alcoholic?
Both Sam Breen and Gabriela Trigo are strong actors. They clearly have a connection to each other. And their moments of sincere honesty in their struggles are truly moving. The play moves at a frenetic place and when the emotion hits, it hits with a thunder. I found myself swimming in waves of recognition at my own romantic travails.
The play’s form demands intellectual engagement of its audience. Which is refreshing. And let’s be honest, love and all the feelings that come with it do not follow a linear narrative. I would like to see further exploration of the play’s dealing with themes of bisexuality but the fact that it captures the struggles of love and addiction in such an ingenious way more than make up for it.
Flesh Eating Tiger captures the inexplicable quality that brings two people together. And while the two stars maybe be more star-crossed than anything, we root for them to figure it out and find balance in an uncertain sea of booze and tears cried over love longed for.
