If you’ve ever left packing for a trip to the last minute, detest wet trainers, or wonder if you’ve answered a doctor’s questions correctly, you’ll feel at home in the audience of I Think I’m Dying.
Warren has written a compelling monologue that begins with a candid recollection of frantically packing for a trip. Anecdotes like this one strike a great balance between being relatable for the every person and hitting home for those who struggle with anxiety, ADHD or other mental illnesses that exacerbate these everyday challenges.
Warren’s comedic timing, with punchlines peppered throughout the emotional journey of the show, is effective. It’s not the type of comedy show where you should expect to be in fits of laughter the whole time. Rather, Warren’s sweet spot is making you feel as though you’re listening to a friend, with a pleasant smile plastered on your face throughout and a few giggles here and there.
In its current form, there are some pacing stumbles and some scenes feel repetitive, leaving a heaviness in the air for longer than is effective in a 50-minute timeslot. However, the monologue is heartfelt. If it were repackaged as a video series or self-help book it would surely go viral with widespread acclaim on the neurodivergent/BookTok Venn diagram of TikTok algorithms – a place Warren knows well.
Aided by the intimate setting of the State Library’s Circulating Library venue, I Think I’m Dying is a lesson in catharsis. Directed by Annabel Matheson, lighting is well-utilised to signify the change of perspective in the one-woman show and the soundbites of music and TikTok clips aid the storytelling nicely.
Overall, I Think I’m Dying feels a bit like having someone read your anxious thoughts back to you: challenging in parts but well-meaning and warm-hearted. If you’ve ever got sucked into wondering if you have ADHD because of TikTok, have struggled with mental health or just really hate packing, Warren’s show provides a community service to push forward important discussions. And you should still probably go to the doctor.
I Think I’m Dying [But I Don’t Want To Go To The Doctor] continues at the Circulating Library at the Courtyard of Curiosities until March 9
Read more 2025 Adelaide Fringe coverage here on InReview