Issy Cory
Our protagonist in plewds is begrudgingly getting through a therapy session to discuss their emotions post-break-up. We are repeatedly sidetracked into absurdist episodes that try to decipher whether there is more to unpack. Slowly, it becomes clear that something has gone seriously wrong.
We all know how queer relationships can be, right? When our protagonist attempts to explain away their ex-partner’s questionable behaviour we wonder why they are so eager to put up a front. Drag, clowning, and pop culture references are in abundance, all hoping to paint a clearer picture of the night in question.
From the beginning, Katherine Payne has us in stitches. Their ability to warm the room up with insane drag characters and brilliantly timed interactions with their therapist means the audience are immediately onboard.
Each devised sub-character of the story is expertly personified. At once a detective, a gameshow host, and a French film director, Payne moves through these with fervour. Most importantly, this host of characters elevates the contrast between the absurd and real, with the therapy scenes standing out in their emotional rawness.
The progression of plewds is often maddening. Though we move from lip-sync, to detective work, to infamous x-factor auditions, we are constantly drawn back into our protagonist’s traumatic past. It is a jarring, yet necessary reminder of how our tragedies can persist despite our best efforts.
The show’s discourse around the difference between violence within straight relationships versus queer ones is communicated admirably. Scenes acted out between two female audience members force us to question who we instinctively perceive as the villain in a relationship. It is an incredibly clever way to encourage the audience to examine their own preconceptions.
plewds is a powerful reminder that healing is not linear, nor is there any right way to do it. Payne asks us to welcome their story with open arms, ripping our hearts out in the process. The stage is left messy, just as life so often is.
Recommended Drink: Instant coffee made by your therapist.
You can catch plewds at Summerhall – Old Lab from Aug 16-18, 20-26 at 19:25. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Box Office.
Jake Mace
