Review: GOOD GIRL, Old Red Lion Theatre

Riding high from its huge success at Edinburgh, Good Girl returns to the Old Red Lion, before transferring to the VAULT Festival in 2018. Examining the comparative nature of body image, Naomi Sheldon takes the audience on an exploration of womanhood. There's talk of ABBA, masturbation and Henry VIII.

Smashing and gliding through the water, GG competes in her school's swimming gala. "Good girl" the coach screams. It's nice to hear, the compliment satisfies the need for recognition. But it's also uncomfortable and objectifying.

Sheldon has written a script that could be hard to pull off. However, she rises to the challenge, exuding physical comedy through her expressive movements and outlandish characterisations. Laura, Sarah, Zoe and GG are all best friends. They obsess over music, boys, and org*sms.

In these conversations, Sheldon demonstrates her talent for accents: Cockney, Essex, Geordie and Northern are all performed well. The characters discuss feminism and identity. Dressed in dungarees and a red bandana, Sheldon resembles the American war heroine Rosie the Riveter. It's an empowering costume choice.

Suffering from a severe case of chronic indecision, GG has spent years removing all of her feelings, so much so that she struggles to tap into her gut reactions. In her view this is a symbol of true strength - if you leave no room for feelings, then there's no chance of being hurt.

Sheldon is a ball of constant energy, however her consistent excitement makes her delivery at times too one-dimensional. Her performance is of a good standard, yet throughout the one-hour piece, she struggles to develop it further.

Despite a lot of potential and many promising ideas, the piece falls into the trap of being self-indulgent, lacking components that hook the audience. It feels generic; her connection to the material seems only surface level, and the intention is unclear.

When we compare ourselves to another person, it really doesn't help our own state of mind. There's no such thing of the perfect lived experience, and society's pressure to conform to the ideal seems like an impossible task. Part play, part stand-up skit, Good Girl is a roller coaster journey through the feminine experience - and like a roller coaster it has its peaks, but also its dips.

Good Girl at Old Red Lion until 1 December, before transferring to the VAULT Festival 2018.

Photo Credit: Naomi Sheldon

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