one4review | On 23, Aug 2019

A new play, written and performed by Nic McQuillan and Flora Marston, about the world beyond #me-too and entitled masculinity. When we enter the venue, Flo is already on stage, sitting in front of her laptop. Nic appears and the two, who have been friends for the whole of history, immediately break into a game of Truth or Dare, except Flo does not speak. She communicates through her laptop, with her words projected on to a screen. Nic certainly makes up for Flo’s silence, seeing himself at the epicentre of all major historical events, and delivering his words with amazing energy and passion. From the start, there is an unsettling undercurrent to the narrative, which deals with love, friendship, frustration and misunderstanding. We wonder if Flo is mute, or is Nic so dominant that she simply doesn’t have the opportunity to speak. It is the latter, because Flo ultimately takes over the conversation when Nic is crushed and lies motionless. We return to Truth or Dare, but Flo quickly moves on to the timeline of women’s history in a powerful and passionate monologue. Although the writing lacked a little direction and clarity at times, the performances were intense and powerful and the play deserves a bigger audience than the day I was there, when my attendance actually doubled its size.
Reviewed by Howard
1.40pm
Underbelly Cowgate
Until 25th August