“Pastabate is a fun, food-filled frenzy that takes the audience through the
comedy and tragedy of relationship breakups… and pasta.“
Beth Spencer
4 bowls of gluten free pasta
La Mama
Melbourne
June 4 – 9 2024
There are many ways people deal with a relationship breakup. They may hit the gym, or go on a shopping spree, or eat ice cream directly from the tub while crying in front of their favourite rom-com. HER, the protagonist in Pastabate, eats pasta. Which doesn’t sound so bad, until we discover that HER is allergic to pasta. As someone who shares an intolerance to (but love of) pasta, I found a lot to relate to and enjoy in Dani Hayek’s (un)romantic comedy about dealing with the often irrational private struggles experienced when a romantic relationship ends.
At the start of the play we find HER attempting to supress emotions about her recent breakup, staying home alone so as not to be a burden to her friends, and eating pasta. Lots of pasta. HER insists she doesn’t want to talk about it – but is ultimately unable to resist. Consequently, she coopts the audience to be the friend to whom she can vent her frustration, all the while eating and craving
more pasta.
As HER’s story unfolds we begin to realise how her ex-partner is just as bad for her as the rash-inducing, allergenic pasta she continues to devour. Fuelled by increasing emotions, and pasta consumption, the audience are treated to an equally funny and heartbreaking journey through HER’s relationship and its aftermath, which gets steadily steamier as it works towards its hallucinogenic boiling point.
Dani Hayek’s script is full of humourous, cheeky, and relatable moments which had the audience laughing and nodding in recognition throughout. For anyone who has been a part of the dating landscape, and suffered the inevitable breakups, there are lots of familiar scenarios presented in this play. Yet rather than feeling predictable, this added to the humour and builds sympathy towards HER’s situation.
Hayek has skillfully underpinned this comedy with the tragedy of heartbreak. They provide a public view into the often-private stages of post-relationship grief, while reminding us that breakups can be painful regardless of how long the relationship lasted or whether you really liked the person as much as you had convinced yourself you did.
The role of HER is played by Sophie Peppernell who brings an energy and comic timing to the part that is key to this largely one-person show. She adeptly builds emotional intensity throughout the piece in combination with lots of physical comedy that complements Hayek’s witty script. She is joined briefly on stage by the Disco Daddies who add another layer of comedy to the pasta-inspired climax of the show.
The production design, also by Hayek, cleverly makes use of the space with close attention to detail, from the mounting pile of clothes on a chair to the “Self Love Club” hoodie HER wears. The lighting (Cole McKenna) and sound (Rachel ‘Stoz’ Stone) design was effective in helping to distinguish the different parts of HER’s story and interactions with several unseen characters. This was operated with precision
which maintained the momentum of the piece.
La Mama’s location so close to the Italian restaurants of Lygon Street seems a perfect place to watch a show about pasta. Capitalising on this proximity, audience members are given an opportunity to indulge in a complementary dessert post-show at a nearby Italian restaurant.
It is easy to see why this piece was so popular when it debuted at the Sydney Fringe Festival in 2022. The show was sold out on opening night, so you should get in quick if you want to secure a ticket.
Pastabate runs until June 9 at La Mama Courthouse.
Beth Spencer, Theatre Now
