I never thought I’d be so invested in the drunken antics of 6 nepo babies. But it’s the Fringe, any and all inhibitions have been left at the door.
Jess Terrier’s play You Deserve It brought poignancy, mystery and excessive glamour to theSpace on the Mile, and over the course of an hour wove a moving story of hedonistic privilege and bitter betrayal. Exploring themes of nepotism and integrity, the play balanced poignancy and humour to great effect. Its portrayal of glistening indulgence was reminiscent of Gossip Girl, in all the best ways.
Some clever moments of humour lightened the tension of the plot, as champagne-fuelled antics gave way to intrigue that left you on the edge of your seat. Despite such larger-than-life characters, each member of cast excelled at bringing them to life so convincingly and humanising them emotionally. Within a single hour, their immersive depictions brought to life such complex characters it felt I had known them for much longer.
Archie Beattie’s portrayal of the over-indulged, over-entitled Lennox Logan was both immensely entertaining and highly believable, emulating a young (marginally less problematic) Lawrence Fox that, at points, made you want to reach out of your seat and slap him. Lilith O’Donnell, played by Leah Neill, was perfectly snarky and tragic, whilst the endearing performance of Robbie Small as Blair Douglas has now given me trust issues. The entire cast was sparkling, mesmerising, and young; if this is what the next generation of Scottish theatre has to offer, its future looks good.
You Deserve It is at theSpace on the Mile, Space 3, 3-23 Aug (odd dates)
Buy tickets here.
Images provided to The Student as press material