Though not the most affecting one-woman show of the festival,
Tumble Tuck may not be the strongest swimmer in a sea of one-woman shows here at the festival but, for its blend of emotional impact and humour, it is definitely worth a watch.
Milton’s script is extremely well-paced, moving at a speed that keeps an audience interested whilst never feeling rushed. Daisy’s backstory is tantalisingly unwrapped piece by piece, but shock value is still very much retained. Body image, eating disorders and trauma are all addressed thoughtfully and sensitively. A slightly longer performance, even with just 10 minutes added, would enable Milton to go further into these themes since it feels like this production only scrapes the surface.
Daisy occasionally comes across as somewhat irritating thanks to an over-exaggerated accent and child-like performance. However, her accidental humour, found in all sorts of situations, had the audience in stitches. By contrast, her moments of doubt and anguish are incredibly powerful. Milton also brings to life other characters from Daisy’s surroundings with variety and energy, thus keeping the production vibrant. Her portrayal of Kath, the Queen Bee with a hidden vulnerable side, is particularly interesting. The on-stage swimming, combined with effective lighting and sound choices, never feels awkward or out of place. Instead, Milton presents a young woman in her element when gliding through the water.
Tumble Tuck may not be the strongest swimmer in a sea of one-woman shows here at the festival but, for its blend of emotional impact and humour, it is definitely worth a watch.
