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the Space on North Bridge
A polished, entertaining performance with a sensational soundtrack.Summary
Rating
Excellent
From first stepping into the auditorium to hearing a fantastic soundtrack, to laughing ecstatically at excellent delivery of comedic text, Head Girl by Girl Next Door Theatre Company is a wholesome and entertaining blast.
Becca Taylor (Caitlin Fairlamb) wants to be head girl. The campaign is a lot of work and it’s taking a lot of energy, but it’s what she wants, right? Head Girl follows Becca’s journey as she learns the importance of taking care of herself.
Accompanying Becca on her journey are her sister, best friend, and teacher. All are played seamlessly and convincingly by Rowan Miller, who does extremely well to keep up with her constantly rotating responsibilities. Each character is signified with appropriate costume elements but could be made further distinctive with more varied physical choices. These choices could be encouraged by the three characters having more defined roles in Becca’s narrative, as they all play relatively supportive figures. Fairlamb is an excellent, eccentric-but-recognisable figure as Becca, using compelling facial expressions and body language to embody an endearing theatricality. The two performers are a solid duo, consistently supporting one another, with great chemistry.
The performance invites small moments of audience participation (we are instructed to applaud and cheer, asked to raise our hands), which were responded to with enthusiasm; evidence of an engaged and entertained crowd. These experiences create moments of joy and community, signifying what Becca is supposedly fighting for – improving the school environment for her peers.
The text brims with comedy. The chips vs mashed potato decision is beautifully delivered as Fairlamb portrays Becca deliberating with angst, further endearing us to her. The comedy in the text serves as a strong foundation for more sincere moments later when we come to a wholesome and serious conclusion about learning to take care of ourselves, even if it’s difficult. Whilst the ending does become fully realised, the context of Becca’s decision is at first unclear and loses its impact when we are uncertain of the finality of its consequences. What comes next, however, is an enjoyable and satisfying display of Becca’s growth, resulting in a heart-warming and moving conclusion.
Alongside the strong acting, comedic script, and engaging story, Head Girl should be remembered for its soundtrack. From Blondie to Olivia Rodrigo, this show smashes its song choices. This soundtrack means the entire production has an uplifting and nostalgic atmosphere – perfectly suited to a story that explores a key aspect of growing up.
Written and produced by: Girl Next Door Theatre Company
Directed by: Rosie Bowden
Head Girl plays at EdFringe until 20 August. Further details and bookings can be found here. Note that the show changes venue from 15 August.
