Review: EDINBURGH 2024: FOUNTAIN OF YOU, Assembly Rooms

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland brings Tasha Gordon-Solomon and Faye Chiao's new play Fountain of You to the Fringe, diving deep into the perils of female ageism.

The plot follows Kristen (Matrya Wróbel), a once-thriving actress deemed "too old" for Hollywood after her 35th birthday. In a desperate bid to reclaim her youth and career, she encounters enigmatic spa-owner Angelica (Lucy McClure) who promises a bizarre rejuvenation treatment. What begins as a miraculous transformation spirals into a darkly comedic nightmare, as Kristen is forced to confront the absurd lengths society pushes women in order to maintain their appearance.

The six-strong cast is small but mighty. David Joseph Healy is written in the programme as playing "Man", but his performance extends far beyond a single character. Healy seamlessly transitions between a multitude of hilarious male caricatures that Kristen encounters on her journey. He infuses contagious delight everytime he is onstage. This also adds an interesting layer to the production - typically women are pigeonholed into stereotypical roles, but here director Tania Azevedo reinforces male characters as one-dimensional stereotypes over fleshed-out individuals. 

Kristen's downfall from cheerful to chaotic is beautifully conveyed by Matrya Wróbel, who also displays particularly stunning vocals. The Esthettes (Selina Savijoki, Jadon Simone-Trelure, Kaiyi Xu and Bernice Jiaxin Zheng) flow through the piece effortlessly, almost embodying a modernised Greek chorus.

Scene changes are slick, choreography is witty and performances are darkly amusing. Occasionally the sound system overpowers the vocals making them hard to hear, and it really needs an interval - 1 hour and 45 minutes is a long time to sit without a bathroom break!

Nevertheless the message of the play is extremely welcome, fresh and important - the performers challenge audience members to reflect on the unspoken realities between gender and age in modern society. It is important to note the play involves stage blood and slightly gory imagery for satirical, comedic purposes.

A must-see at the Fringe this year - don't miss this incredible RCS production!

Fountain of You is at the Assembly Rooms until 24 August

Photo Credit: Hope Holmes/RCS

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