Dear Annie, we love you. A semi-autobiographical show that looks at the consequences of a brain aneurysm, which in this case resulted in a path of self-rediscovery.The terrific script turned what could’ve been a depressing tale into an hour filled with surprising moments, but which still feels poignantly real. The stage set includes various old televisions that display friends and family throughout, each usefully helping to set up scenes, a great use of multimedia elements. Performers Samantha Ipema and Eleanor House bring such impactful but also lively performances to the proceedings as they command the entire stage. At times the sound level needs tuning as moments become loud and difficult to hear, meaning that things can become over-stimulating. Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic, inspiring force of a show.

Pleasance Courtyard, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Andrew Melrose]