On the way in, a smiling woman, the stage manager, hands out party hats and slices of lemon. Already seated in a small kitchen set is the one character, who never gets her own name, played by Claire Titelman. She wears a pink party dress, and sits surrounded by roast chickens, devilled eggs and thermos flasks. The character picks up a plate of lemon, and almost eats it, before explaining that she wont - lemons are for emergencies only.

She talks about birthdays being both emergencies and disasters. She changes pace frequently, and is sometimes silent. She also talks about the waste of food, but how she has to be prepared. She claims to have no feelings, and addresses 'you' her 'best friend' who knows some of the past, but not everything. She says 'they all think I've gone crazy' - and is pleased no one uses the word 'special'. Her theory seems to be the need to be specific in all things - from three knocks at the door to her ritual - 1: count the birthday candles, 2: put a new paper napkin in the guest spot, 3: brush her hair, four times, 4: pull up her tights to avoid wrinkles, and 5: inspect the lemon in case of emergency. She talks of her sister's visit, constantly eating the chicken to avoid saying the wrong thing, her ten-year-old brother, chatting about his girlfriend, her mother who brings devilled eggs and extra paprika, telling dirty jokes to try and make her laugh. This leads into more explanation, more memory of a birthday party where 'they say it's not my fault', and 'that day' with screaming, smoke, and a girl called Anna. The show continues to describe more incidents exploring similar themes.

The overall effect is sad - someone in such a tortured emotional state, and the effect on their family. It looks at how childhood incidents - especially one so dramatic - can have such a permanently scarring affect. It is, in many ways, quite tragic, and while it's easy to feel pity for the character, somehow, it's hard actually to sympathise with her. Maybe because that's not what the character's looking for. It's hard to know what she does need.

Cast Credits: Claire Titelman.

Company Credits: Writer - Claire Titelman. Director - Claire Titelman. Associate Producer / Stage Manager - Julianna Bloodgood. Sound Designer - Julianna Bloodgood. Set and Costume Design - Patrick Fraser, Abigail Marlowe, Claire Titelman. Company - Claire's Kitchen.

END

(c) Gill Smith 2007

reviewed Wednesday 8 August / Gilden Balloon

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008