This perceptive play explores the unlikely friendship between two young men: one a ‘lad’, the other a nerdy video game expert. At first the lad scorns the nerd, but when the lad’s family life disintegrates, he becomes entirely dependent upon him. Lamentably, the lad must face up to the fact that caring for a sitting duck – whether it be a socially inept young man, or literally, a feathered friend from the nearby stream – makes you vulnerable, too. The constant rearrangement of the two boxes which constitute the set is irritating, but this is a touching story, snappily choreographed, with dashes of tremendous humour. Both Dean Ashton (lad) and Thomas Morrison (nerd) are ideally suited to their roles.

Pleasance Courtyard, 3 – 29 Aug, 3.25pm (4.25pm), £7.50 – £10.00, fpp258.
tw rating 4/5
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