How camp can one show possibly be? Fruit Flies tests the limits.
From Fast Snail Productions comes a mysterious queer drama that turns friendship into competition. The show follows Maddy (Erin McGivern), as she arrives at her friend Olly’s (Nathan Cathcart) flat in preparation for a Chappell Roan concert. Maddie meets Steph (Eilidh Barn) – Olly’s flatmate – who will be joining them at the concert. The girls immediately clash, and when it is discovered that there are only two concert tickets, mayhem ensues.
While the premise may appear simple, it takes an unexpected sci-fi turn as the trio are transported into other worlds and dimensions that turns the story deadly. This pitch would sell me on any show, but Fruit Flies also couldn’t be gayer. Expect reading, eating, and tea (none in the traditional sense), as well as a lot of strong language.
The story was compelling, but it was the energy that excited me. The room was buzzing with laughter from the fantastic jokes and well-timed bits. While on occasion I got lost as to what was happening, it didn’t really matter — the show was purely a fun experience. Although the plot was secondary to the humour which ran throughout, the ending absolutely did not disappoint.
The performances were great, and the cast were entertaining from start to finish. Their heightened personas bounced off one another perfectly – no one was outshined, and no one missed their opportunity to shine. This chemistry made for comedic delight. McGivern was particularly excellent at portraying the awkward and insecure Maddy, who felt like someone we have all met: she reminded me of many tense encounters I have had with old friends.
The show was very simple with no props and only a few chairs as set. However, Val Volkova’s well-executed tech and Will Evans’ script made the show richly enjoyable. Fruit Flies was made for any chronically online RuPaul lovers looking to swarm around some queer culture.
Fruit Flies is running until 29 August at Space 2 at theSpace on the Mile. Buy tickets here.
Image by Cara Barbour, provided for press use.
