EDINBURGH 2024: Review: IS THE WIFI GOOD IN HELL, Underbelly Cowgate

Is The WiFi Good In Hell? follows the charismatic Dev from the age of 12 in the sleepy town of Margate, having just learned that gay people exist, into adulthood in a sharp and witty coming-of-age tale.

Is The WiFi Good In Hell? from Writer/performer Lyndon Chapman was originally developed as part of Soho Theatre's Writers Lab, a programme that has produced considerable talent in recent years. As such, it is hardly surprising that Chapman's debut is a promising one: packed with poignancy, nostalgia, and moments of real sincerity.

Growing up, Dev dreams of leaving the sleepy town of Margate behind to move to London. His best friend Ange will join him there as he rides the London Eye daily and works at the "big top shop". There, he'll make more friends than ever before, perhaps shedding the cloak of insecurity that seems to blanket him throughout. It's a dream that anyone who has ever hoped of moving to the 'Big Smoke' has concocted for themselves, no matter how naive this may seem to adult audiences.

Though the play takes place over several years, the most captivating moments occur during Dev's university years, especially during a segment in which Dev describes the 'five voices' he adorns to survive in any social situation - something which would have been interesting to explore further. During this time, he also steps into an agonising will-they-won't-they relationship with his flatmate.

While Dev is the central character of the story, Margate, the most recurrent setting within the production, feels as though it is a character within itself. Like Dev, Margate is undergoing a kind of evolution, moving from wasteland in the opening moments to somewhere hip, desirable and trendy in the last.

Though the staging is somewhat simplistic, Chapman is a masterful enough storyteller to bring audiences along for the ride - taking us from a dilapidated shack near the seafront to the streets of London and everywhere in between. While the play could be pacier at parts, many bases are covered in a short amount of time without it ever feeling overwhelming.

There's a lot to enjoy in Is The WiFi Good In Hell? which strikes a nice balance of comedy and sincerity. Chapman is an endearing performer, aided by direction from Will Armstrong and clever lighting design. It's a great addition to this year's Fringe catalogue.

You can read our interview with writer/performer Lyndon Chapman here.

Is the Wifi Good in Hell is at Underbelly Cowgate as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival until August 25.

Photo Credit: Charles Flint Photography.

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