Twelth Premise
C Central, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Group: Oh What a Shame Productions

Natasha Hulugalle

This is an expertly acted Generation X angst drama of the kind that American writers and performers excel at producing. After the performance I rudely eavesdropped on to an exchange between the play's writer and lead Brian Crano and an audience member, 'This would make a great film,' his admirer enthused. It is clear that Crano is a writer and actor of an impressive and committed talent but, Twelfth Premise does not need to be made into a film. The disaffected, aimless and confused American youth can still appear fresh to theatre. On film however he is all too dominant.

Given that this is still a play, it should be judged accordingly. Any future greatness that Brian Crano or his cast may achieve should be ignored for the present. The twelve premises referred to in the title comprise a hope-tinged code of life that starts with 'We can't survive alone' and ends with the twelfth premise, 'We can survive'. Crano has his characters fall in and out of chaotic relationships through which they struggle to find fulfilment and purpose. It is only when they turn to introspection, however, that they are able to find a twisted sort of peace and acceptance that mere survival is enough in itself. Real contentment is a rare achievement.

Such a production does not need to rely on any overblown adornments in stage or set (although there was the touching if overplayed plaintive lone guitar lament). Individual performances are distinctive and hugely confident although it often seems that the female characters are only required to appear in various states of undress while looking wan faced and helpless at the antics of their menfolk. The performance was clearly a crowd pleaser, showing that there is a certain romantic ideal of this type of American youth that will always move audiences.

1 August to 24 August.

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