Waterproof

Waterproof is a gentle play about Laura, who works in Luton’s only aquarium. It’s a monologue primarily delivered to a goldfish, and is a very sweet and light break from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the Fringe.

Eva Sampson, who performs the piece single-handedly, is fantastic; she gives a very touching performance. We can all see something of ourselves in the character of Laura, and although the premise is quite absurd, there’s a wonderful touch of the normal and mundane that’s carried through the show.

There are a couple of very moving sections, but sadly a lot of the piece slightly drags. The set is wonderful, with cardboard cut-outs and matchstick puppets illustrating the story as the audience hear it. But the innovative design fails to make the material any more interesting.

Although Waterproof is sweet, it doesn’t really offer anything of substance. It’s fairly entertaining in parts, but fundamentally doesn’t significantly grip or engage the audience.

– Chris Wheeler