one4review | On 19, Aug 2024

Another riotous comedy by the Fleabag team, written by the award-winning writers of Square Go and two of Scotland’s finest playwrights, Kieran Hurley and Gary McNair, about two young boys trying to cope with the hormonal atmosphere of a small-town school.

Two kids, Stevie and Max, burst onto the stage dressed in bright yellow tracksuits in the bear pit of a venue, where the only prop is a council rubbish bin and with the audience sitting around the stage, playing the part of certain characters at times. Both kids are potentially VLs, which stands for Virgin Lips and means that you’ve never been kissed. They are at the point of moving from second to third year and are desperately trying not to be VLs. Stevie is determined that he’s already not a VL, as he did kiss a girl, but this was only in a drama class, so does this really count? Tonight is the night of the Hammerston High School end of year party, but the kids have missed the bus and have to wait another hour for the next one. Plenty of time to plan for the evening. Max is determined to kiss a girl tonight, but is also terrified of going to the party and really just wants to go home. He has his sights set on Sheila, but she is also Wee Cozzer’s target, and Cozzer is the self-proclaimed super cool kid and school rapper. Stevie is all talk and loves long words, which he hilariously uses throughout without really understanding what they mean. Max is more of a sensitive boy, but trying to play it cool. However, it’s the audience who learn a thing or two, especially about having a ‘pinger’ and what is a ‘diesel penis’. The two kids do eventually make it to the party, but will Max overcome his demons and ‘winch’ Sheila, fulfilling his dream of no longer being a VL?

Scott Fletcher and Gavin Jon Wright are fantastic storytellers and brilliantly take on the roles of Max and Stevie, although helped by a wonderful script that sparkles with wit, insight and humour, really bringing to life what life is like in a typical Scottish secondary school. Wright also transforms himself into a variety of supporting characters – the superb Cozzer, Sheila (on roller skates), Max’s mother’s new man Joe the Bigot, amongst others. This is a very enjoyable and fun hour of fringe comedy, and I would strongly recommend catching it.

*****

Reviewed by Howard
Summerhall, Roundabout

Until 26th August (not 20th)