Baby Steps

Grief doesn't need to make us feel neither special, nor alone.

This beautiful drama explores the relationship between Alice and Jo, two young friends sharing a uni dorm who are both affected by the loss of Alice's mother. The play opens with Alice, oozing distress out of her pores, trying to find something in a pile of papers in her room. We are quickly introduced to Jo, her friend, who is also distraught that her friend has taken to the habit of doing this in the dark, with her phone torchlight on.

The banter throughout reveals a friendship between two 20 year-olds who must love each other very much, we would hope. This crusty shell peels off quickly though as the writing and acting do not disappoint: the poignant dialogue about memories, grief, loss, hope and the numerous metaphors throughout reveal indeed two very profound humans who are learning, (baby) step by (baby) step, how to cope with the first of the Big losses: Alice, in one monologue, confesses that losing her mum made her scared that it would be easy to lose other people; Jo, on the other side, unwittingly takes on the role of caretaker - and this is a cloak far too heavy for her, too, but that she wears with grace as she is trying repeatedly to help her friend.

There were many moments that made the audience feel deeply for the characters. The scenes move from clumsy, nervous chats (humans, especially when they're new to grief, don't know how to talk) to deep conversations - we see indeed how it takes a constant, imperfect, well-meaning presence to make somebody whole again after loss. And how, if you don't allow yourself to grieve, you turn bitter, angry and paranoid towards the people that love you the most. The performance was so touching that it took all of my rational brain to not (as an audience member!) break the fourth wall myself and hug the actresses on stage, during the show.

The musical interludes between the scenes are very blanketing - yet another lovely detail that hints at the hope that this play gives to people going through grief.

whim trail: We met the lovely Fruit Bowl bunch at our student residence on one of the first days at the Fringe - and we see them almost every day on the train station platform as we head out to Edinbrrrra. They handed me a flyer and spoke briefly about the play - and I am so glad for it to have been my very first play to watch at EdFringe!

Seen: Sun, Aug 4th at theSpaceUK @ Surgeon's Hall

Tickets: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/baby-steps

Play social media: Baby Steps Fringe

Company social media: Fruit Bowl Theater