ED2014 4/5 Reviews ED2014 Spoken Word Reviews

Lucy Ayrton – The Splitting Of The Mermaid (Tea Fuelled)

By | Published on Saturday 23 August 2014

A lyrical, modern retelling of ‘The Little Mermaid’, this is a sweet, moving story of love and longing. Here, the mermaid gives up her tail for a baby, not a boyfriend, but the pain and heartache are certainly not Disney-friendly, as we watch May’s happily-ever-after turn into something much darker. She meets her man, a mechanic who lives by the sea- not a typical fairy tale hero. But on land she cannot talk, and walking is a poor replacement for the society and culture you’ve lived in your whole life. Lucy Ayrton is a compelling performer, flowing through the scenes with grace and delicacy. An oceanic soundscape by Superbard provides a beautiful background to this quiet, thoughtful production. A fragile, gentle piece of quality storytelling.

Underbelly Cowgate, until 24 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Gemma Scott]



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