EDINBURGH 2017 - Review: WAGGO, TheSpace

A dub step version of a High School Musical track blasts around the room and inflatable props sit in a box centre stage. Stuck in an alternate detention room, five students calling themselves "The Brunch Bunch" tell stories about themselves. A swan delivers a Kinder egg and the origins of an org*sm are discovered. Waggo is a hilarious, deliberately crazy piece of theatre brought to the fringe by Queen Mary University's theatre society.

Charlie is pregnant, but no one knows how. Spring is running her campaign to become the school president. Peggy is a fortysomething-year-old residing in a teenager's body, and Wayland is actually the Loch Ness Monster. The show makes no sense, but that's the point of it.

Juliet Turnbull as Becky is a standout. Dressed in a mustard sweater and an assortment of quirky hats, she is the geeky do-gooder who irritates the other detainees. Turnbull is hilarious and her extravagant caricature portrayal of the nerd is wonderful to watch. Her ridiculous facial expressions and exaggerated delivery work to her advantage, and her ability to land a joke is highly impressive.

Lizzie Manwaring and Hugo Aguirre, who have teamed up to co-direct, have cleverly crafted this show with many ingenious moments throughout. The pair has given a lot of freedom to the performers, placing trust in their ability to deliver. It certainly pays off.

Each performer expertly plays the comedy, and is relaxed throughout. The atmosphere in the room is electric; everyone is having so much fun. This is a play that you can simply watch and not have to think too much.

So much more than just a university production, the show is absurd and unlike anything else. Ripping off contemporary culture, their humour is dark, nonsensical and fits perfectly with what Manwaring and Aguirre wish to achieve. This coming of age drama is eclectic and kooky. You never know what is going to be said or done next and this anticipation really does keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Waggo ran at theSpace until 26 August

Photo Credit: Dani Surname

To post a comment, you must register and login.