This play is largely a monologue piece, where a 16-year-old girl tells the story of the last few months of her life. It’s a coming of age tale that deals with many issues that affect young women growing up in New York, and love, death, pregnancy, her future career, the break up of her parent’s marriage and many other topics are dealt with at various stages.

The play takes place on the set of a school production of ‘The Maids’ in which Bernadette, our heroine starred. She is a witty and complex character, with a number of dead-pan one liners about the various characters she sees around her and shrewd insights into modern America.

The writer, Adam Rapp is a Pulitzer prize nominated playwright that has worked on Television shows such as the L word and In Treatment. The writing in the piece is very impressive and the character of the fast talking teen that is slightly disgusted by the world she is becoming part of is reminiscent of Bret Easton Ellis at his best.

The play is a little over an hour-long, and it is always going to be difficult to find someone who can play a 16-year-old girl and also carry a play of this length but Lauren Farrell does a fine job in the part. At various stages she is reading from a diary, but she is at her best when moving around the stage, commanding the small set and even climbing into the audience at one point.

The Director Jimmy Fay previously directed Quitely, at the Peacock Theatre which was on of my favourite productions from last year.  He is certainly a name to watch out for in future.

Penknife Productions present ‘The Edge of our Bodies’ finishes today at Smock Alley Theatre (matinée at 1 and evening performance at 8), but I’d expect to see it return at some point!

By : Adam Rapp
Directed by : Jimmy Fay
With Lauren Farrell and Charlie Hughes