REVIEW: Growth, Roundabout at Summerhall - Edinburgh Festival ✭✭✭✭

Andy Rush in Growth. Photo: Matt Humphrey Growth

Roundabout at Summerhall

13 August 2016

4 Stars

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Paines Plough have established a fine tradition with their residency at the pop-up Roundabout. Stripping their work down to just actors and texts, performing in the round, they have presented some gems.

Growth joins that list of hugely enjoyable plays. When a Tinder date suggests Tobes gets a lump on his testicles checked out, he does what most men may do. He goes into denial, gets his best mate to feel his balls, has an embarrassing encounter with his fit female GP and focuses too much on his ex-girlfriend instead of his health problems.

Andy Rush is excellent as Tobes, frustrating in his inability to deal with his problems sensibly, but making us care and root for his recovery. He captures the fear any young lad would have. All the other parts are played by Remy Beasley and Richard Corgan and they shine in their versatility, Remy especially hilarious as the GP fibbing badly in an attempt to spare Tobe's feelings.

Luke Norris's script pings with outstanding one-liners, and occasionally could pause in more depth on Tobe's fear. However, a beautiful scene with Corgan playing a terminally ill patient is delivered with effective poignancy. This is a play about an issue many young men may not want to face- in fact the word cancer isn't spoken. Well worth checking out- then check them out lads! Highly recommended.

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