COVERING THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL SINCE 1996
MANWATCHING (Royal Court Theatre)

A kind of ‘Vagina Monologues’ meets ‘Mortified’, this is a true account of one woman’s sexual desires and experiences. The difference though, is that it’s read by a man who’s not seen the script until it’s handed to him on stage. Each night a different comedian is invited to deliver the monologue. Tonight, Stuart Goldsmith performed like he meant every word, appearing totally unperturbed by the sometimes-explicit content. Taking place in the round, all eyes are on Goldsmith from every angle, but he uses the space with aplomb. There’s a risk that a man reading an anonymous woman’s monologue might seem contrived or gimmicky, but the humour and honesty shine through and it’s actually a pretty powerful concept.
Roundabout @ Summerhall, until 27 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Daisy Malt]
