When boyfriend and co-worker Joe dumps her mid-Calippo at Alton Towers, our unnamed protagonist’s world spirals out of control, having fully expected a marriage proposal. A discarded red thong and witnessing a super-friendly brunch with added handholding confirms her worst fears: Joe has another woman and that woman is office arch nemesis, Karen, owner of the ditched undies. Rage and mourning for love lost follow, as Sarah Cameron-West navigates her character’s messy journey to some sort of resolution in this one-woman show.

Along the way, there’s entertaining passive-aggressive yoghurt-based revenge and a touching brie-related interaction with her judgy mother. A coveted promotion to New York is thrown into the plot, which pitches the character head-to-head with Karen, while blasts of Gossip and Robyn ramp up the energy as she faces an identity crisis (expressed via a thong vs comfy-pants dance break). 

It’s a solid, amusing hour and Cameron-West is a gifted actor. But with her character teetering on the edge of breakdown throughout, there’s a relentlessness to the show’s pitch, where perhaps a little more light and shade would be beneficial. The denouement hits home by nailing that mix, as an almighty sweary office showdown leads to a heartfelt reflection on the power of being heard. 

Karen, Underbelly Cowgate, until 25 August, 3.55pm; main picture: Dylan Woodley.