Thirsty is an hour's exploration into why the UK as a nation likes to drink so much, a mish-mesh of voices aiming to represent the occasional-tipple-imbibing moving through to the binge-drinking public. Performers Kirsty Housley and Jemma McDonnell recreate what could be a typical night out for many twenty-somethings in the UK's current culture.

Moving through lairy hen parties to pulsating clubs, from crowded after-work bars to desperately trying to hail a taxi at four in the morning, they present an easily recognisable and often amusing cross-section of the female drinking experience.

Running through the piece is an apparently autobiographical thread tracing the friendship between the performers, which feels out of place in relation to the rest of the piece. The performers are personable and engaging, but some may find the presentational style and lack of concrete characterisation affords them too much distance from the work. By abstracting from a concrete narrative and aiming to represent an all-encompassing every(wo)man, empathy can be lessened. As the performance progresses to the darker side of drinking, this lack of investment makes for little more involvement than passing a horrendously drunk girl in the street (which, some may argue, is the point).

Thirsty is visually striking, with lighting and Fiammetta Horvat's innovative set used to great effect. Much thought has clearly gone into what encapsulates a night on the town, and these aspects are all artfully present in some form or another, including the very effective sound design by Benji Fox. Pianist Shane Durrant must be commended not only for his wonderfully effective musical composition, but also for his delightful stage presence as he subtly underscores the entire show. Movement sequences are emotive and well-executed, and bring a much more visceral level to the performance than the text provides alone.

All in all, an extremely well-constructed piece of devised theatre which very effectively fuses live music, movement and text to explore a common experience. Advocates of devised work will appreciate the slick delivery and clearly thoughtful creative processes of the production, but others may be left wondering if it isn't perhaps more fun to be doing the drinking rather than watching others recreate it.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Kirsty Housley - Performer. Jemma McDonnell - Performer. Shane Durrant - Piano / Live Accompaniment.

Company Credits: Writer - (the company). Deviser - (the company). Director - (the company). Composer – Shane Durrant. Designer – Fiammetta Horvat. Sound Designer – Benji Fox. Lighting Designer - (uncredited). Technical Operator - (uncredited). Dramaturgical Supporter – Ben Francombe. Movement Collaborator – Wendy Houston. Production Assistant – Carolyn Bradley. Creative Producer – Elle Moreton. Producer - (uncredited). Company - The Paper Birds. Website - www.thepaperbirds.com/.

END

(c) Emma MacLennan 2011

reviewed Friday 5 August 2011 / Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com