Have you been Internalised?

Without doubt, this has been a feelgood festival for all concerned. One of the more obvious signs is the return of genuine ‘word of mouth’ recommendations - and one of the most obvious recommendations on everyone’s lips is Internal, easily my Pick of the Fringe.

When I reviewed the show at the beginning of the month I had a sneaking suspicion that there was something special in this speed-dating one-on-one piece of psychological theatre (as the curtain rose and I strained to look up at my date towering over me, I groaned inside “Oh god I’ve got the trannie…” - and boy, was I wrong). A lot of other theatregoers (and critics) have come to the same conclusion (about the show, not the trannie), and something of a spin-off industry appears to be emerging from the show.

Audience members have huddled in the rain in the street outside the hotel venue to dissect what they had just seen and to compare experiences - Yuri, knickers waved about, Maria, nude photos, the one who doesn’t talk, Christophe, what was said behind your back… Some have retired to a nearby pub or cafe for an hour afterwards, others have gone back into the hotel to wait for the rest of the evening in the hope of returns. One woman was rumoured to have exited, brushed her hair down, put on a coat and turned straight back (with new ticket) into the following show thinking she wouldn’t be recognised by the cast (she was, eventually). I know of at least one support group that has met up a week later in a pub to review how they all still felt.

The Stage critics handily reside just round the corner from the venue and have one by one popped in for the 25-minute experience. I see another spin-off developing here: five critics welcome five members of the Internal cast to a speed-review date followed by a critical group session. I can see the poster now: ‘Internal: The Critics’ Cut’. Any other spin-offs come to mind? Let us know!