Name: A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First
Start: 2024-08-02 20:25:00
End: 2024-08-02 21:15:00
Location: theSpace @ Niddry St

Xhloe and Natasha have been a Fringe icon for the past couple of years. Having won the Scotsman’s Fringe First award twice in a row now, the moment A Letter to Lyndon B Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First, was announced, it was something I instantly put into my diary as one to watch. This Fringe has been a difficult run for the pair, with cancelled shows due to health issues and a fire alarm in the middle of the show I was present at. Yet despite these behind the scenes snags, the show itself is an absolute marvel, living up to what you’d expect from the pair as a seasoned Fringe goer, and a wonder for those who have never seen them before.

Another home run for Xhloe and Natasha, Scouts Honour!

A letter to LBJ looks at the story of two boys Ace and Grasshopper, mucking around at summer camp trying to become real boys and live up to their hero Lyndon B Johnson so they can meet him at the White House and truly impress him. The two of them play into the boyish charm of their two characters with full vigour, From Natasha’s LBJ obsessed and adventurous Ace, to Xhloe’s meeker Grasshoper constantly looking up to Ace. All the while the show would keep moving as they flipped and spun the giant tyre on stage, or would play iconic 60’s hits on their harmonica’s, never leaving a dull moment.

Both Xhloe and Natasha also are using the staples of their work to the fullest and it once again works oh so well. From movement sequences perfectly in sync to a non linear story process that makes you never not want to stop thinking about the project to lighting and sound work that continues to blow me away. The show never stops moving even in its quiet moments, and its ability to play with pace, tone and setting naturally and still have it make sense is such an incredible talent.

A letter to LBJ is incredible. It is truly insane how this pair keep bringing hit after hit to Edinburgh. It’s movement is tight, its story keeps you thinking and tears at your heart, and both characters are an absolute delight to watch. Even seeing the two of them forced to break character as the fire alarm rolled in and seeing the passion they had to get started once again was really incredible, the pair of them clearly love what they’re doing, and it makes their work all the more delightful.

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Reviews by Ewan Woods

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Boyhood is all about spit-shakes, rope swings and playing soldiers. But what happens when the pretend becomes all too real and the childhood tales become harder to retell? Whether it’s stories around the campfire, letters home to mom, or a prayer to your favourite president, these two Boy Scouts really just want a turn to play the good guy... Scout's Honour. From consecutive 2022 and 2023 Fringe First Award winners Xhloe and Natasha comes an absurdist two-hander about the idealised American childhood and the boys it left behind.