For most of this play, I thought the problem with the writing was that I didn’t care. I didn’t care about the death of Ed’s father, or Ed’s nascent alcoholism, or his reluctance to speak to his mother. By the end, though, I did care. I was angry: angry that the play decided to ignore Ed’s problems with drink. He blacks out, wakes up on the street, misses social occasions regularly through drink, and constantly swigs from his father’s leftover vodka bottles… all dismissed with a ‘you’re not an alcoholic, let’s drink some more vodka and dance to A-ha’. Perhaps this is a too-subtle critique of an addict’s denial, but I suspect it’s simply lazy and stupid writing. 

Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose, until 26 Aug.
tw rating 2/5 | [Andy Leask]