Paul T Davies reviews From Today Everything Changes now playing at the Space on North Bridge at the Edinburgh Fringe
From Today Everything Changes.
Space on North Bridge, Edinburgh Fringe
19 August 2018
3 Stars
Book Now
The Orange Works are presenting two LGBTQ plays on the Fringe this year. In rep with Trans Penine, they have revived last year’s play, From Today Everything Changes. Before Chris’s wife died she made him promise to be himself. Accepting he is gay is part of that promise, and the play charts his coming out, his first steps into dating, and opening up to his daughter.
Not every play needs its protagonist to be on a microphone confronting the audience with the harsh realities of modern life. I mean no disrespect when I say that this is a sweet, traditional, tender play, and it feels very personal to the writer. There are hardly any parts that explore the older gay male experience, and huge kudos to the company for telling this under told tale. Although there is some opposition towards Chris from his daughter, it does feel that the path is a little too smooth, and the dramatic stakes are not raised to a great height.
However, I think the point of the play is to tell a romantic tale, and here it succeeds. I actually could have done with a longer story, exploring a bit more the age difference between the two men and societies prejudice towards that.
