Rift is a raw, taut, and emotionally charged two-hander that doesn’t flinch — and is elevated by two extraordinary performances.

Matt Monaco is mesmerising as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, locked up and locked in with his rage, regret, and rare flashes of vulnerability. That he can make such a morally compromised man feel so painfully human is remarkable. His physical presence is extraordinary — taut and coiled one moment, almost balletic the next, his body tells its own story of years behind bars.

Blake Stadnik matches him beautifully as the brother on the outside, torn between love and self-preservation. He shifts effortlessly between a longing for connection and the urgent need to keep his brother’s toxicity at bay. Their dynamic is heartbreakingly complex — tender, dangerous, and laced with unspoken history.

The staging is sparse — a few chairs, a sterile room — but it perfectly captures the grim reality of prison visiting. There is nowhere to hide, and that’s exactly the point.

This was the first show of the Fringe to bring tears to my eyes. It’s a brutal, beautiful piece about family, loyalty, and the cost of trying to save someone you love.

A must-see. Unflinching, unforgettable, and deeply moving.

*****

Reviewed by Rona

Traverse Theatre

Various Times (1hr 20 mins)

Until 24 Aug (not 11 or 18)