Bigface Theatre's debut production is a funny and endearing tale of a small-town woman's search for happiness and contentment in her life.From the Welsh valleys to a dodgy Spanish plastic surgeon via Butlins, we follow the adventures of Ruth (Rachael Boulton) in two stages of her life. Young and innocent - excited about a family holiday to spend many saved up two pences - and then 20 years down the line - overweight and in a seemingly loveless marriage. Adult Ruth doesn't love herself. She thinks an overseas trip for a nip and tuck will sort her life out - "This time tomorrow I'll be beautiful". But the journey causes Ruth to re-evaluate her life's priorities.Rachael Boulton's performance is a real highlight, and joy to watch. She initially presents Ruth as a funny, bubbly yet naïve youngster. which gets the audience on her side from the start. The older Ruth is more complex, using humour to mask her true feelings, which Boulton handles brilliantly. There are some genuinely moving scenes where she has to face up to the consequences of her life choices. I confess to welling up in a simple scene that involves only the actors projected silhouettes.Additional supporting characters are played by Peter Twose. He inhabits each of the smaller roles well, but making sure not to overshadow the central performance.The small hotel function room that is The Space @ Jury's Inn may not be the easiest of places to perform in, but BigFace Theatre succeed with the most clever and inventive use of staging and props I've seen at the Fringe.For a debut productions, this is promising stuff. The script borrows a touch from Shirley Valentine and Mike Leigh, and at only 45 minutes could certainly do with being longer. The story is also wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking, however, any fringe show that ends with the audience wanting more must be doing something right. Highly recommended, especially to fans of female monologues.
