The 5-actress strong comedy offers a nostalgic and accurate portrayal of female friendship evolutions in our day and age. Leader of the group, type A actress Rosie (played with brio by writer-performer Katie Suitor) welcomes us into the story by promptly establishing the meta, play-within-a-play nature of the show. For the subsequent 50 minutes, we follow the 2010s flashbacks and contemporary re-enactments of a group therapy session that the 5 friends follow in an attempt to salvage their dying friendship.
As we jump in and out of fourth wall breaks, flashbacks to 6th form boozy pre-games and hilarious middle school choreographies performed with the serious awarded to United Nations conferences, the group dynamics are established and only assert themselves more in the present.
Some of the characters would perhaps benefit from a more tri-dimensional approach. Still, we delight in Lily’s ditsy, naïve and overly enthusiastic composure brought to life with impressive aplomb by Alice Kellar.
“a nostalgic and accurate portrayal of female friendship evolutions in our day and age.”
Whether they are interacting with the audience or re-enacting the therapy exercises they must go through to find connection, we have no trouble following the beautiful energy and believing that we have in turn 14-, 18- and 25-year-old girls and women before our eyes. Bossy health guru Danielle (Hannah Bunker), kind follower Emily (Lucie Cowie) and riotous badass Ruby, played in both touching nuances and strong jubilant choices by Eva Ceroni Marti, complete the merry group. The play lags somewhat in the middle perhaps losing the novelty of its meta nature, and elements become slightly redundant.
The rhythm is however picked up by a wonderful musical performance from Cowie, whose voice and music are impressively rich and lead the way towards the more dramatic themes of the play, the discussion of trauma that underlies a lot of long-lasting female friendship and makes the play both relatable and hard-hitting.
The play does not shy away from accessible, solid quips and is a beautiful example of what female-led comedy can be.
Show Details
Venue: theSpace on the Mile – Space 2
Dates: Aug 19-24th
Showtimes: 13:05
Running Time: 50 minutes
Age Recommendation: 14+
Price: From £7.5 (concessions available)
Accessibility
The Space on the Mile is wheelchair accessible and has an audio-enhancement system.
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