V.L. by Kieran Hurley and Gary McNair review
16 August 2024
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Max and Stevie are teenagers at an ordinary Scottish secondary school. About to leave second year and head into third year, this is a dangerous time. You see it's okay to be a VL in second year, but in third year? no, that's not acceptable. You'll never survive the torment.
A VL is a Virgin Lips; it means you've never been kissed. And in the turbulent environment of a Scottish Secondary school there's nothing worse to be. Labelled a sad wee loser, the longer you stay a VL, the more of a VL you become.
Based at "The Best Venue at Edinburgh Festival Fringe", the Paines Plough Roundabout at Summerhall, VL is gloriously staged in the round. 170 people stare down onto the central arena as Max and Stevie pace around a bus stop, plotting their plan of attack for the end of year school disco before the next bus arrives to whisk them off to battle with the lassies.
The script for VL is hilarious. Written by Scottish theatre legends Kieran Hurley and Gary McNair, the authentic, brutal dialogue of the Scottish teen is delivered with devastating nonchalance by actors Scott Fletcher and Gavin Jon Wright. Dressed head to toe in highly flammable neon tracksuits, the pair bring the teenage characters to life with heaps of humour and heart.
For the duration of the play Fletcher plays Max, the VL in question. Through his hopes, fears and
memories he made me so grateful to be done with school life. The horrors and the chaos, the taunts and the torture - it's a wonder any of us survive. It certainly changes us and teaches us how to navigate a battlefield; and poor Max absolutely goes through the wars in VL.
Wright plays Stevie - but also love interest Sheila, rapping radgie 'Wee Cozza' and a number of adult teachers and neighbours. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Gavin Jon Wright is one of the finest actors in Scotland. He is always outstanding. But this performance is the performance of the fringe for me. It's exquisite. He switches from a rapping, swaggering teenage twit to a rollerblading 14 year old girl in a heartbeat. All of his portrayals are distinct and complete; all of them are immaculate.
Stevie never uses the appropriate word in a sentence. Delivered at such fast pace, the linguistic flair of this script and the multitude malapropisms are a highlight of the play. It's a glorious quirk that just got funnier as the play progressed. Wright did not once fumble his words - it's frankly inconceivable. Brilliant, and so, so clever!
Both actors expertly work with, and among the crowd in the Roundabout - it's impressive how quickly we were all chanting "VL!"
The Roundabout is an intimate environment with striking lighting and a cozy atmosphere. With inspired direction from Orla O'Loughlin, the cast make excellent use of the multiple entry points to the stage, and they make sure to play to all 'sides' of the audience constantly. This is a tight, deeply engaging show that has been moulded to extract every possible benefit from the playing space it's in.
For anyone looking to experience a fringe venue and a piece of fringe theatre, this would be an ideal place to start. It's the epitome of everything good about new theatre work and the fringe. No set, few props, just excellent writing and hypnotic raw talent. I had a ball.
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📍 V.L. is at Summerhall until 26 August | jump to listings info
📸 production photos: Mihaela Bodlovic
V.L. - Cast and creatives
By: Kieran Hurley and Gary McNair
Director: Orla O'Loughlin
Starring: Scott Fletcher
Producer: Francesca Moody Productions
V.L. - 2024 Edinburgh dates
Venue: Summerhall (Paines Plough ROUNDABOUT)
Dates: 1 - 26 August
Time: 20:10, 23:00
⌚ Running time: 1 hour 10 minutes
⚠️ Age guideline | 12+ Strong language / swearing
🎟️ Tickets: from £10 https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/vl
V.L. review, Kieran Hurley, Gary McNair, Gavin Jon Wright, Scott Fletcher. VL, Francesca Moody Productions, Summerhall, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I am an Edinburgh Festival Fringe accredited media reviewer and as such I receive complimentary press tickets in exchange for my honest reviews. My reviews and star ratings are always my honest opinions.
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