EdFringe Review: The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl

I’ve never seen anything quite like ‘The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl’; what a treat. What an outstanding showcase of technical prowess and artistic skill. Making the show even better, there’s no romance between these two magnificent, queer performers. Just as with Barrowland Ballet’s superb ‘Chunky Jewellery’, this meeting of mythical beings is a love letter to friendship.

The action begins with both at the summit of their respective Chinese Poles, isolated figures as far from each other as the stage will allow. Playtime begins with each daring the other to let loose…

Their differences are manifest in their first physical interactions. Once on the ground, Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali’s first encounter is marked by her inertia and his enthusiasm. Falling about like a mannequin, she gets huge amusement from teasing her new pal, before they slide into an impressive bout of acrobatic dance.

“I like dawn, and flowers…” states Sadiq, “I like night, and bones…” replies Vee. He likes things hot, she cold, he likes cats, she likes dogs, he likes things fast, she much prefers things slow.

They have, it seems, absolutely nothing in common. But, as yet, neither has fully realised who they are, which is to say both are still seemingly human. That begins to change, and the changes keep coming until both manifest their final forms. For Sadiq, that means taking flight; for Vee, it means becoming a Kelpie, lurking in the depths. Can their friendship survive?

“I keep having this dream…” she begins, alone on a darkened stage, “…it’s night, it’s dark, and I feel the sea calling to me…”

Their evolutions are played out in 3D, their lithe physicality defying gravity time and time again, whilst they devote every fibre to their physical transformations. Sadiq, delicate and beautiful in his physicality, whilst Vee becomes a hissing, threatening, and powerful predator. Their relationship isn’t always easy, prone to moments of conflict and negotiation, but ultimately mutually uplifting.

It’s simply breathtaking to watch them caper up and down the poles; some of their descents are particularly arresting! If you’ve ever wondered what a human abacus would look like, wonder no more!

“I’ve never seen anything quite like ‘The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl’; what a treat.”

The costuming that comes into play as they mature is cleverly conceived to magnify their different palettes of movement. Vee’s dull-seaweed mantle suggests a jellyfish’s tentacles, whilst Sadiq’s tailored waistcoat and coating of feathers suggest something swift and red-breasted. A swallow perhaps?

He’s a delight, she’s a threat. Panto directors could learn a lot about how to create a sense of genuine menace in a family-friendly show. When she starts viewing the audience as food, it’s entirely believable. Were Feather Boy not on hand to pull her back, I reckon there’d be a lot more screams.

Good.

Because if Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl aren’t categorically different, then their friendship wouldn’t be all that unlikely. Watching them work it out would be so much less interesting, and way less heartwarming, or indeed funny.

At one point, things seem to have taken a terrible turn, thanks to a little dramatic shadow puppetry, and when Vee returns to stage, she takes to the aerial strap in a bravura display, not just of strength, but also an ability to create a character and their emotions through movement high above the ground.

I don’t really think it’s a spoiler to say things work out (perhaps a little too easily), or that Feather Boy Sadiq is given his chance to share his dreams of soaring high above the earth and liberating himself from the weight of gravity. He subsequently takes flight via an exhilarating swinging pole routine, surrounded by a vortex of swirling, multi-hued feathers. Move over, David Copperfield, this is how you fly on stage.

How the friends finally reunite is best left to personal experience.

Edinburgh should be proud of these two homegrown artists. Each August, countless super-talented folks descend on us from all the corners of the earth. Yet in Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali, we can boast two of the most impressive on offer this year. Back in 2021, the invaluable Catherine Wheels Theatre Company gave them a little funding to begin exploring the idea; it’s certainly paid off.