Edinburgh 2018: Review: MESS, Greenside

Many have said to a loved one: "If you need anything, give me a call, any time of day.". But what happens when a friend actually takes you up on that offer in the middle of the night? MESS is a new musical that follows two best friends over the course of an evening as they counsel and confess to one another.

Rachel (Imogen Halsey) is very unsettled following some unexpected news and turns up at the flat of her best friend Adam (Michael Dahl Rasmussen), who she thinks has more control of his life. They express their respective woes and wishes through individual monologues, song, psychotherapy roleplay and alcohol-fuelled dancing.

Halsey and Rasmussen have strong voices which deliver the harmonically interesting score (also by Rasmussen) however at times they fail to be heard over the trio of instruments in addition to their cello and bass playing respectively.

The use of actor musicians is appropriate given their characters' aspirations to play in a band together and the two bass instruments complement each other. The inclusion of saxophone/clarinet and French horn does not always fit with the style of music you would associate with two chaotic 20-something characters.

Platonic male/female relationships are rarely portrayed via this form of storytelling that usually lends itself well to romantic duets. It is refreshing to see this relationship portrayed well on stage.

Deep conversations with friends can transform a person but the story felt like it was merely a fly-on-the-wall snapshot into millennial life and could have been developed further, perhaps over a longer time frame.

MESS will resonate with anyone who's had a late night pow-wow with a friend and champions being open about mental health with loved ones. We could all do with an Adam at the end of the phone.

MESS at Greenside until 18 August

Photo credit: Roar Toast Productions

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