The Flea

Anna Sokolova
Dec 31, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Jan 6

New Theatre Sydney, January 2025 as a part of Mardi Gras

The review

"The Flea" by by James Fritz

It is by far my favorite show of the year. I've seen it twice, and I would watch it on repeat again.Maybe one day I try to write up my notes in a coherent text, but for now I just leave these crappy photos and a note about this work.Precision is the word for this work, in scenography, movements, intonations. Sleek geometrical setup in three colours, red black and white, a maze of surfaces, a clever play with dimensions, angle and sizes are a reference to the legacy of @patrickisinaus mentors and inspirations, to what I can judge.Each acting work was a gem.Makeup and costumes is a subject for a separate discussion. Clownage married to drama; extremely theatrical world, extravagant manner of acting telling a real tale; cold geometry made to work highlighting deep human feelings. A story about one particular scandal made a universal one of betrays and invisibility of a 'small person' destinies to be meat-grinded by a state system; a display of sensuality and hidden wishes of those who by social position not allowed not only demonstrate, but even to have them.

It all was the 'Flea'. Nearly a year later, still feel addicted.