Play Dead (Underbelly Cowgate, Iron Belly) | Review By Lewis C. Baird

Betyl Theatre comes to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time with Play Dead at Iron Belly in Underbelly Cowgate until 30th August. The play follows Echo, who has a broken heart. A gutted-from-the-inside, cut-off-your-toes broken heart. Help is just a phone call away, but he opts for a Classical (feral) form of revenge and steals his ex-boyfriend’s dog.

Bailey Edwards is gripping as Echo. From the moment he first appears on stage till the moment he exits, the audience is transfixed. This is a layered portrayal with great comedic timing, punchy emotion and a twisted character journey. When the writer of a production takes on the lead character, you sometimes fall into the danger zone of either the acting or writing being compromised; however, it’s not the case here – Bailey delivers a complex and beautifully scribed play, complemented by his own incredible performance.

The realist styling of the play, with absurdist splashes, really makes for an original, creative, and clever piece. The dialogue is lush, precise, and effective – everything you want for a Fringe production. It works incredibly well with its parallels of Ovid’s myth of Echo and Narcissus, with several nods to Greek mythology within the text. Yet this is far from a classical affair; this play is vibrant, fresh and contemporary.

Mia Hull directs this piece and features as Echo’s sister, bringing poignant storytelling and building on the play’s farcical style. Mia’s direction makes full use of the space, ensuring that she and Bailey are physically and mentally engaged throughout. Along with pacing the piece perfectly, to secure the emotional and psychological impact whilst not letting some of the themes or issues linger too long. There is very little on stage, and yet everything you see is utilised to its full potential – especially the grapefruits.

Ellie Isherwood’s sound design is perfection, helping ramp up tension and bringing a multimedia layer to proceedings. This brings us a unique and entertaining element to the storytelling which is very much appreciated.

Play Dead is a bombastic, slightly absurdist contemporary play that brings human behaviour surrounding dysfunctional relationships to the forefront. This is portrayed in a captivating and creative manner, in the hands of very talented upcoming creatives.

Get tickets for Play Dead here – https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/event/play-dead