Spin Cycle: The Lesbian Laundrette Play brings a queer absurdist story to the stage.
Following acclaimed performances in London, Oxford and New Hampshire, London-based theatre company Berserk Theatre, founded by queer American-Irish artist Zofia Zerphy and Rhiannon Bell (also the two stars of the show), makes its Edinburgh Fringe debut, bringing a queer absurdist story to the stage.
Our two characters meet in a laundrette, and over the time it takes for the wash cycle to complete, get to know each other, whilst realising they have known each other all along. The show blends humour with sharply observed truths about love, class, and the strange suspended world of the laundrette. But can forgotten memories be rinsed clean?
Whether intentional or not, this Irish play has some lovely nods to Irish history. The laundrette nods to the horrific case of Mother and Baby Homes (known as Magdalene Laundries) in Ireland between 1920-1996, when unwed pregnant girls were sent to have their babies, out of shameful sight of the world. And the blending of reality and remembrance in the story has a folklore feel where thin places can almost merge two different spiritual realms together.
Directed by Bethan Rose, Spin Cycle is a nice meet-cute of a show but it left me slightly confused as to what actually happened. Were they dead and meeting once again in heaven? Why do they keep forgetting who each other is and what are they really blaming each other for?
Spin Cycle needs to be put back on one final wash and iron out the creases but could be something very lovely.
★★★
Reviewed by West End Wilma
Spin Cycle plays at Underbelly (Clover) until 31 August at 14:25.
Read other reviews I have written of Edinburgh Fringe shows over the years
