★★★★
As I sat down in the auditorium and heard ‘Suddenly I See’ by KT Tunstall strumming through the speakers (a musical cornerstone of my youth), I didn’t quite realise how this show was exactly what I needed until everything was already out in the open.
The camaraderie between the PALS is wonderfully and hilariously done, the four actresses bouncing off each other so relatably from moments of poignant calm to sheer chaos. While this sheer chaos was occasionally a little difficult to pick out the dialogue from, I was completely blindsided by the way that this performance reflected the weird period of young adulthood I find myself in.
It really highlighted the ways in which keeping your pain to yourself can only hurt you more, yet also how incredibly difficult it can be to reach out and ask for help from even the people closest to you. However, this silly, truthful, energetic show reminded me how lots of girls go through this time, where they feel like children in adults’ bodies as everyone around them grows up and hits big life milestones while they’re arguing with their best friends at the bus stop about who gets to be Daphne at the costume party.
PALS was such a delight, and I think it was mainly because it showed me something I already knew, but hadn’t had the courage to face.
PALS is on at Doonstairs at Gilded Balloon Patter House until August 12th
