Sisyphean Quick Fix Review

March 20, 2025

Sisyphean Quick Fix Review

19th March – 6th April 2025

As we walk in, the brilliantly simple and yet effective set stands out. Cardboard boxes piled high, set with wine bottles, shoes and a suitcase, this is a great design and paves the way for a play that is beautifully written and performed.

“Both Paris and Rizzo have razor sharp delivery loaded with humour and pathos”

Two sisters – one in London (Krista (Bettina Paris), an in-between jobs actor working bars in London) and one in their native Malta (Pip (Tina Rizzo) who is recently engaged) – are coming to terms with the fact that their father is an alcoholic. For anyone who has ever lived with or loved someone with an alcohol problem, that realisation that they cannot go a day without their fix, or that they have been hiding their addiction from you is an all-too-familiar situation, which the play conveys perfectly.

The rapport between the two actors was excellent – two naturalistic and authentic performances which were both funny and emotive.

Both Paris and Rizzo have razor sharp delivery loaded with humour and pathos, injecting the play with laugh out loud moments whilst conveying the depths of sadness each character lives with. Rizzo, particularly, had great comic timing and a natural comedic talent.

As writer and performer, Paris gives a truly authentic representation of the struggles any actor may face and the unwavering hope and dedication required to just carry on. We sense much of her material is written from the heart and drawn from real life experiences. Rizzo’s expressive performance is both quirky and sincere. She is able to switch the emotional direction at any given moment with a simple deadpan look or cutting glance and drives the comedy in this well oiled sibling double act.

The direction was clear and concise, using minimal set and props to great effect, and a video call technique worked really well.

If there could be one bit of constructive criticism, the play perhaps tried to cover too many issues – love, relationships, careers and alcoholism. I would have liked to have delved a little deeper into the father’s plight and the issues behind his addiction.