Fringe Review: THE PLOT, Main Hall at Summerhall
Photo credit: Giulia Ferrando
“It’s just a story” a playwright proclaims, as plots and promises swirl onstage. But is it? And who writes it? Who are the characters and who gets to decide? TheatreGoose’s The Plot takes the audience on a journey of belief and deception, of trust and faith in an effort to uncover what really happened on that fateful night of November the fifth where treason was cried out for years to come.
The Main Hall at Summerhall shimmers uneasily in grey, a huge black rock sits at the centre of the stage with chains hanging from a prison grate above and an eerie soundscape (Sarah Spencer) welcomes in the audience. Stark and beguiling, it is only the beginning of the intrigue. Sophie Kean and Abby McCann take to the stage in a game of words, an astute welcome into writer Emma Howlett’s world of storytelling. Shifting seamlessly from brothers and wives to kings and prosecutors Kean and McCann are masterful in every role they portray in this monochromatic gothic tale.
As the scenes flit by reaching into and out of history through a host of characters involved in the plot, the mystery deepens. Who is the pawn and what is the game? Is blood thicker than water? What will those in power do to remain in power? Smart, witty dialogue is a welcome refresher through the intensity and brain power required to follow along. The genius in Howlett’s storytelling lies not only in her ability to sculpt a world in front of your eyes but to weave in light-heartedness and quick hilarity to catch you off guard.
Juxtaposing Shakespearean quotes with occasional bickering and sharp wit creates a tapestry of language and pays homage to storytellers throughout history, igniting conspiracies and drawing back to the characters at the centre of this story. As they careen about the stage, Kean and McCann transform into a plethora of people through smart, subtle props and gently shapeshifting outfits. It is a testament to the incredible acting talent that the audience do not get lost in the whirlwind of the tales and layers of the show.
Slick and spellbinding, The Plot is captivating from the off. It grasps you in its clutches as it twists and turns through history inviting you to slowly question what you thought you knew. Impressive in its scope and capacity to spin a tale, The Plot is an alluring foray into the power of a story.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Hannah Goldswain
The Plot plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival until 31 August, with further info here.