Since the Free Fringe is so often dominated by comedy, a little free theatre can come as a pleasant surprise, especially when it’s good. Words and Women, a collection of monologues written and performed by up-and-coming female theatrical talent from London, is that kind of hidden gem - an hour of consistently interesting and enjoyable theatre tucked away below The Street Bar beyond North Bridge.
The show delivers a selection of readings of six original monologues, performed every day on a rotational basis. The subjects and tones of the pieces vary quite dramatically: some are light-hearted, others are darkly comedic, and one, in particular, courageously takes on very sinister subject matter. Director Stephanie Fynn keeps things simple and tight, and manages to elicit some very good performances indeed.
To highlight a few standouts, the first piece - written by Helen Comerford - was a perfect introduction for easing the audience in. It involves a bored, manipulative socialite named Ellie, in a tale concerning a recent dinner party where her instincts for mischief get the better of her. Actress Lindsey Chaplin managed to hit all the comedic notes and strongly communicated the sense of delight this woman feels in toying with the vapid people around her. Another standout is a wickedly humorous piece - written by the show’s producer Charlene Skyers - in which a slightly strange-seeming woman, wonderfully embodied by actress Queen Allen, sits at the bedside of a hospitalised man, while there is just a hint that not all is as it seems. The only section that didn’t quite work as well as the others was an odd diatribe from a schoolgirl who apparently cohabits her body with at least five other personalities. It was no fault of the actress Ambreen Azam who clearly put her all into it, but the material was just a bit too nonsensical for its own good.
Words and Women is a show that’s easy to recommend. It’s well-written, well-acted, well-directed, and free. If you can give up an hour of your time to support the talent and hard work of some young voices in theatre, I would implore you to do so.
