Lost Girls / At Bus Stops is a moving new love story set at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The show follows Jess and Iona on the last night of the Fringe, as they immerse themselves in the busy atmosphere. They see shows, go to clubs, and even have their tarot cards read, but throughout there is an inevitable tension between the two characters, a force pulling them together.
It resists the temptation to make the story overly “sweet”, as love stories between two girls are so often told. It is also explicitly clear from the start what the nature of their relationship is: Jess and Iona are absolutely not just friends. Yet we hardly need to be told this, because the rest of the show communicates it beautifully.
Actors Catriona Faint and Leyla Aycan are fantastic in their portrayals of Jess and Iona, respectively. They deliver the script in a meaningful, well-timed, and dynamic way, keeping the feeling of yearning alive throughout. The energy Faint brings is particularly exceptional.
The tension between Faint and Aycan is palpable, and the slow burn of the romance is delightful to watch. The show is well paced, and keeps the audience rooting for Jess and Iona.
The use of space is also brilliant. The set is made up of a bus stop, while two boxes are moved around the stage at different moments to create depth and visual interest.
The setting of Edinburgh becomes a character in its own right, as the girls run around the city. They map the streets with kisses and break-ups they have each had, cleverly illustrating how a place can become so interwoven with memory. It feels like a love letter to the Fringe: comedically observational, and a little chaotic.
Though it tries to resist being sweet, the show absolutely is sweet, as much as it is also hot, angsty, and heartwarming. It is refreshing to see Jess and Iona’s relationship portrayed so frankly, with a depth of feeling that is rare to find.
Lost Girls / At Bus Stops is running until 24 August at The Box at Assembly George Square.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Tommy Ga-Ken Wa, provided to The Student as press material.