Apricot, a self-proclaimed dark comedy, explores womanhood in today’s socio-political context. Two best friends ,Angel and Gina, discuss reproductive rights and what they mean to women. Topics of religion, opinion and morality are covered extensively. Although punchy and comedic in places, I found the subject matter too heavy for the comedy to really shine through. It’s hard to laugh when the foetus the size of an apricot is sat in front of you in a fruit bowl. Perhaps that’s the point and I’m just missing something!
The number of abortions also seems a little unnecessary, I mean surely two would have been adequate, by the end of the play it seems that there isn’t a fruit or vegetable that a new foetus hasn’t taken the form of, whether pomegranate, fig or avocado I’ve definitely had enough for one day!
The writing of Gigi Rice is in many places apt, a scene that stuck out to me was Angel discussing her experience requesting birth control from her male GP, Current references were used well and it didn’t feel too millennial. Despite this, I felt in places like it was just a script being read out. At the fringe most things are stripped back, but this felt too casual. Furthermore, what seemed like a two woman show is interrupted mid play for the debut of a Nike tracksuit-wearing boy, to show us the male gaze on the situation I assume, despite adding a dose of comedy to be frank it all felt just random.
What held the play together was an interesting sound composition, between scenes a mix of Tommy and Molly Mae on Love Island, Piers Morgan’s morning show, religious music and American newsreel reporting on Roe v Wade, the sound design helped to solidify the central themes of the play and remind the audience what it’s trying to explore. When one character sings an altered version of the hymn Jerusalem with the converted line of ‘Holy Lamb of God’ to “holy lump of blood,” I had decided this play wasn’t for me. Perhaps I’m not the right demographic and someone older would have found it enlightening, but I’m not sure I left with any nuance or insight.
Apricot is on at Venue 53, The Space @ Surgeons hall – Stephenson’s theatre, 9-10 Aug.
Tickets available here.
Images provided to The Student as press material