one4review | On 11, Aug 2018

When entering the venue, the audience are asked to wear a fascinator or buttonhole as we are honoured guests at the wedding of Mona and Geoff. As well as the bride and groom we are introduced to Sarah and Mark (the celebrant and her husband who are having marital difficulties due to his obsessive compulsive behaviour), Marina and Neil (Marina is organising the reception- she is a control freak, Neil is a middle-aged husband who still acts like a teenage Rockstar) and finally Len who has lost his wife Jean. Mental health issues affect both Mona and Geoff, but they find love and common ground in their every day struggles. The supporting cast member are also suffering in their own ways and the subsequent highs and lows of everyone’s lives put the wedding in jeopardy.

The central characters of Mona and Geoff are sympathetically portrayed, and the uplifting ending did give out a positive message for those dealing with mental health issues. I did feel however that the story lines of the other couples could have been either developed more or left out as they did not feel integral to the central love story. I did get an email before the event advising that the play had been reduced in length by 15 minutes and perhaps, because of this, there has been a loss of character development. However it’s certainly a worthwhile piece of theatre by Nutshell and The Byre Theatre and I look forward to seeing any future projects.

Summerhall – The Library Gallery

7.40pm

Until 26th August (not 12th,16th,17th,18th)