Turnip Fish Theatre Company’s My Pretties is absolutely bonkers and more power to it. Think of an Ealing comedy if the writers sat down to write a mildly feminist comedy, high on acid. The result might be something like My Pretties.
Aggie and Cass played by Freya Gustafson and Daisy Lyons are unlikely friends, one being a barrister, the other a homely lunatic, united by being two-timed by the local postie played by CJ Jones. They discover this as he attempts to wine and dine both at the same restaurant, simultaneously – still wearing postie red. Yes, My Pretties is a barmy laugh-fest wrapped in wonderful northern accents.
As we know, Scottish people are genetically designed to warm to the North English. This will never change, hopefully.
When workplace misogyny banishes Aggy from her promising career, the two women move in together. Fortunately, Cass makes delicious ‘smoothies’ in a cauldron, and the two promptly go into business together. The ‘witchy’ writing is on the wall when the postie transforms into a troll, and the two women develop grotesque noses/chins and a penchant for pointy hats.
“As we know, Scottish people are genetically designed to warm to the North English. This will never change, hopefully.”
The social commentary inherent to the term ‘witch’ is pretty clear and My Pretties does have two female heroes, so I suppose it is a feminist comedy. However, the three-strong cast is far more interested in saying ridiculous things and selling their ‘potions’ to an impromptu ‘Dragons Den’ than pushing a political agenda. Representation and a sort of ‘sisters are doing it for themselves’ energy push the show along – it’s not a lecture. Also, the postie seems to do quite well out of his newly enlarged nose (for precisely the reasons you’re thinking, you dirty beast), so everyone can be a winner.
Explaining why My Pretties is so funny is tricky. Basically, if you find ‘The Stick Joke’ or random puppets funny, this show will work for you. It’s good-hearted fun in the end, and precisely the sort of experimental theatre the Fringe was made to showcase. Will it work for everyone? Haha, of course not. However, if you like a daft-as-a-brush caper comedies and silly jokes, give it a bash.
Show Details
Venue: theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall – Theatre 3
Dates: Aug 12-17, 19-24
Showtimes: 21:15
Running Time: 50 minutes
Age Recommendation: 12+
Price: From £9.5 (concessions available)
Accessibility
The performance space, ‘Theatre 3’, is wheelchair accessible.
The venue, ‘theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall’, has provided the following accessibility information: ‘Please contact us directly if you have any questions regarding disability access. Full venue site is accessible, Wheelchair accessible toilet, No reserved accessible parking, On street blue badge parking, Assistance dogs welcome in all areas. There is a ramp to the venue entrance. Three of the theatres are on the ground floor and there is a passenger lift to the Grand Theatre’.
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