Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Low Down
Fiona is bored and lonely. She is out on a blind date to alleviate both. Whilst she sits waiting for him to arrive, he stands outside Greggs before mysteriously finding her. The night ends after many shots, whilst at work someone she has not met before, Max piques her interest, and both boredom and loneliness may be consigned to her recent history as she navigates co-worker Kevin, blind date Nathan, and Max whilst dealing with her mother and a strained relationship with a sister who’s now in Australia.
Review
Ashley McLean has written, directed and performed a decent solo show which weaves its way through these issues with some insight. The danger of being all three – writer, performer and director – is whether the director and the author can have sufficient dialogue with the actor to ensure that all three are working in the same direction.
It is nicely written and has lots to commend it, but it requires pace and a little more jeopardy. The monologue begins with the date that she was on, and a misunderstanding evolves into a drunken night and a morning of work with a heavy hangover. The romantic possibility of Max unfolds with a Christmas night out complicate things. Mclean layers this with the backstory of her mum and sister. It works well, but the nervousness is underplayed.
An estrangement with her sister who has moved to Australia whilst mum is attempting reconciliation sees Fiona break a little towards the end. That emotional turn is one that comes as no surprise, but I could have been helped by being more heightened earlier. There are asides which could be delivered with more verve, heightening the comedic value by having more drama in the performance would help as the structure needs to be tonally more varied and pace needs to be heightened.
Pink Dolphin has authenticity and feels like a story within a familiar setting for women who reach a point in their lives where others would try and dictate wat life should bring them. McLean is a very effective performer, delightful to watch, with hints at greater depth and opportunity should be given to her to show off her acting chops.
It just needs a little bit more confidence in the material and in the direction. That direction could do with somebody to give them a perspective which is not their own – a luxury, I know, in the current climate.
Pink Dolphin is worth the visit and has promise.
