Invasive Species by Maia Novi. The King's Head Theatre, Upper Street, Islington, London until 03 October 2025, 3☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Danny Kaan.

Invasive Species by Maia Novi. The King's Head Theatre, Upper Street, Islington, London until 03 October 2025,

3☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“Novi triumphs despite the play.”

The Argentinian actor and writer Maia Novi who wrote this play about her own experiences and also plays herself in it is undeniably a woman with presence – she holds centre stage for the 90 minutes especially when towards the end she is playing Eva Peron doing that Casa Rosada speech although it is nothing like how it is perceived now as a result of Evita. But as a play, while it may have lots to say to actors about what they do, apart from appreciating the versatility of the players who support her it really is a lot of sound and some fury signifying not very much for those in the audience not actors or Argentinians. The central part deals with what happens when Novi, who came to America infected by the acting bug – and we do see the bug - determined to break in to films, ended up in a young person's psychiatric hospital and calls upon the resources of the four performers who support her. They do so with skill and director Michael Breslin keeps things moving along briskly enough but somehow, while one admires, one is never actually lifted up and transported by the play into this mad world of people who pretend to be other people and sometimes end up believing the fantasy. Part of the problem is that the performers, whose versatility is not in doubt, all too often interrupt what someone else is doing. In addition some of the carry on with the Argentine flag while Novi is being filmed, having finally got her big screen chance, is just plain silly. The Hollywood Reporter said it was one of the best cultural works of the year referring to a previous staging which may well be the case but some things do not survive that transatlantic crossing. All hail to the amazing Novi however, and those suporting her, but not to her play.

Cast

Maia Novi – Maia

Kalifa Taylor – Performer 1

Harrison Osterfield – Performer 2

Max Percy – Performer 3

Ella Blackburn – Performer 4

Creatives

Director – Michael Breslin

Dranaturg – Marston-Firmino

Lighting Designer – Ben Jacobs

Movement Director – Beth Gill

Costume Supervisor – Charlie Rowan

Set & Costume Designer – Damian Stanton