Mustard ★★★★☆ Hidden away in The Arch performance space at Holden Street Theatres is this one woman show about not-so-shrinking-violet “E”, who literally uses the condiment mustard as a kind of coping mechanism at low points in her life. Written and performed by Irish theatre maker Eva O’Connor, this performance focuses on E’s relationship with a prominent cyclist – following not only the giddiness of falling in love, but the gut wrenching heartache of breaking up. We start with O’Connor entering the stage, looking dishevelled and carrying shopping bags – one full of jars of mustard and the other full of hand towels. From the moment the performance begins, you are completely immersed in E’s world. Each line from her hour long monologue seems just as important as the next in retelling her narrative. As E’s journey begins to spiral out of her control, her “mind turns to mustard”. Mustard in essence seems like something she can somewhat control, even if she can’t control the urge to use it in the way she does. As we progress and O’Connor starts blowing up a small inflatable pool, spooning the mustard contents out of the jars and into the pool, and meticulously hanging up the hand towels, we can see where it is all heading, but it is still scarcely hard to believe when it does happen. E becomes completed doused head to toe in mustard, mustard as a way to inflict pain in a desperate attempt to feel… something, anything. O’Connor plays E with an intensity that will keep you wholly captivated in this production, and never able to look at mustard the same way again!