Theatre: Baby, What Blessings theSpace @ Surgeons Hall – Theatre 2, Edinburgh

Billie is a “people-pleaser”, a 19-year-old woman seeking the truth whose main life events are freshers’ week and getting kettled at a protest on the way to the opera.

Baby, What Blessings, theSpace @ Surgeons Hall - Theatre 2 (venue 33)

Baby, What Blessings, theSpace @ Surgeons Hall – Theatre 2 * * * *

Billie is a “people-pleaser”, a 19-year-old woman seeking the truth whose main life events are freshers’ week and getting kettled at a protest on the way to the opera. Middle-class and privileged, she’s all too aware of how we might dismiss her. However, “a small dose of narcissism is a good thing,” she explains, because “imagine not being the main character in your own life.” And, before long, you might find yourself (kind of) agreeing with her.

Siofra Dromgoole’s well-observed, understated monologue hides its true purpose well, one that gradually becomes apparent when Billie falls in love with Amal – the biggest thing to ever happen to her, she explains. Through Dromgoole’s writing, paired with her sister Grainne’s brilliantly straight performance, it’s easy to get swept along with Billie’s heartfelt excitement over her new relationship, stress about losing her own identity and worry over whether Amal’s feelings for her are as strong. Amal’s black, she also feels a need to point out, because otherwise we’d assume he was white like she is, yes?

all of her pieces are about him.

The ending reveals the full extent of Billie’s lack of awareness in a way that leaves us to work out the extent to which she is part of the tragedy that then unfolds. At a festival awash with self-obsession, it’s a refreshing reminder to look beyond the drama in our own heads.

SALLY STOTT

Until 24 August

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