Confronting and raw.
KXT on Broadway presents COOKED, a drama-comedy by Lana Page and Angel Duggan in association with bAkehouse Theatre Co, exploring the complexities of friendship, parenting, and womanhood.
Logan (Duggan), a socially withdrawn first-year university student, has always relied on two people: her outgoing, chaotic best friend Jean (Page), and her easygoing mother Jodie (Sally Evans). But when Jean becomes increasingly irritating and emotionally distant after starting a new relationship, and Jodie begins displaying strange and erratic behaviours, Logan starts to question everything around her. Her inner circle is replaced by her inner thoughts, and Logan becomes obsessed with finding answers, even if it means crossing boundaries and not giving enough attention to other things. COOKED is a story about family, friendship, perception, and the ways people hide their struggles from the ones who love them most.
COOKED takes a little while to find its footing. While the premise is clearly aimed at a Gen Z audience, the references and jokes feel occasionally overdone. However, the characters and their relationships with one another are given room to breathe as the production progresses. Duggan’s guarded and cynical behaviour feels authentic, Page’s charisma and humour consistently energises the stage, and Evans showcases impressive range, shifting between lighthearted warmth and tumultuous behaviour. The final parts of the show are where COOKED shines; there is raw intensity, vulnerability, grief, and human connection, leaving the audience to process their emotions and to reflect on what happens next.
The production’s visual design appears a mixed success; the lighting colour changes are intended to signify changes in scene, but the use of neon colours were occasionally distracting and difficult to interpret. While they were highly effective during party and celebratory-related scenes, they feel less purposeful otherwise.
Comparatively, the props used are versatile, with items like cellophane, glasses and kitchen items being repurposed in creative ways and used for different scenes without overcomplicating the stage. The costuming (Sam Hollingshead) also stands out. Each character’s wardrobe accurately reflects their personalities – Logan’s homey and familiar clothing reflect her reserved nature, Jodie’s colourful and chic outfits (outside of the work uniform) reflect a mature and vibrant demeanour, and Jean’s bold pink pieces reinforce her energetic and outgoing presence. The background sound feels fitting to the relevant scenes.
Page and Duggan ultimately deliver a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges, complexities, and nuances of personal relationships and individual struggles. Although the plot occasionally feels confusing, it finds clarity and momentum towards the end.
