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Fruitcake

 
Katie L Review by Katie L 3 Published: 12 Aug 2025 theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall Show Dates: 11 Aug 2025-16 Aug 2025

The experience of being a girl in her 20s and living through a global pandemic is both unique and universal. Fruitcake manages to make this a true statement. While not everyone was a girl during the pandemic, everyone can find a part of themselves in this play.

Worth seeing for its fun atmosphere and creative writing

Fruitcake is a brand-new play by Dulcie Johnson and Tildy Poisner. They capture the weirdness of living through a global pandemic and still feeling that life needs to keep moving, as presented by five girls living in one home together. Through the ups and downs, I grew increasingly connected to these girls. Their comedic timing is brilliant, and their chemistry is off the charts. The whole play is simply a charming and fun time.

The poetry interspersed throughout is as well written as the straight scenes, though it sometimes feels a little disjointed from the main portions of the play. At times, I wanted more from the scenes themselves. It does not feel as if there are many stakes for the girls, and the conflict could be stronger. While the plot did not always draw me in, the chemistry of the cast and the wittiness of the writing did. I always found it comedic, even if, just as often, the play’s drive seemed lacking.

Fruitcake is worth seeing for its fun atmosphere and creative writing. It might not be the most action-filled play – but it is a worthwhile experience – especially for girls who lived through a pandemic.

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Set during the lockdown, Fruitcake is a tender and comedic exploration of how the pandemic affected young people and their relationships. With a mixture of poetry, dance, conversation and improvisation –Fruitcake is a messy and vibrant homage to the intimacy, strength and hilarity of close friendships.