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While You Lie

Venue: Traverse Theatre
Where: Edinburgh
Date Reviewed: 7 August 2010
WOS Rating:

Average Reader Rating:

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Sam Holcroft’s new play doesn’t pull its punches. It’s a merciless look at two disintegrating relationships with a side plate of sexual violence and an induced pregnancy before the husband immediately rapes the mother.

I’m not sure whether to recommend eating before or after the show. Either way, for all its shock value, Holman is saying something truthful and probably uncomfortable about sex and marriage: we never know when to say when, nor when to say never again.

Zinnie Harris’ production is a quadrille of queasiness: Ana (Claire Lams), the immigrant secretary, cops off with the boss (Steven McNicoll), on the rebound from her persistent boyfriend (Andrew Scott-Ramsay), who in turn mixes it, out of revenge, with the boss’s pregnant wife (Pauline Knowles).

The plot is stirred by the incursion of a slimy plastic surgeon (Leo Wringer) raising corporate sponsorship for disfigured Third World children and offering genital cosmetology to the gentry. Some play, some topic, some black and bilious comedy.

- by Michael Coveney

Related Content

Booking Tickets & Show Listings
	While You Lie Listing Page

External Links
	Booking page at Edfringe.com

Reader Reviews

Score	Comment	Date
	Didn't like the play but the actors excelled in their peculiar roles. The final scene stretched my belief to the absolute limit - Jan	12 Aug 10
	Very predicable and character lacked credibility. The worst play I've seen at the Traverse in the last 5 years - john Taylor	11 Aug 10
-	One further correction: Claire Lams plays ANA, not Helen. Many thanks - Francesca Dymond	07 Aug 10
	Please amend this review with the following corrections: Steven Mcnicoll plays Chris, the boss; Andrew Scott-Ramsay play Edward the boyfriend, The author is NOT Sam HOLMAN, but SAM HOLCROFT. Thank you - Francesca Dymond	07 Aug 10

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