theSpace @ Surgeons Hall
Aug 17-24
18:10
The 2024 Edinburgh Fringe is enjoying another fine year of theatre that captures an amazing 4000 shows over it’s just less than a month’s extravaganza. I’m a great fan of the Space’s eclectic selection of powerful plays, and so I found myself in the Surgeons Hall beer garden looking forward to an American play written and performed by Nicole Nadler who is fresh talent in the throes of youth.
Her piece is called ‘Why Am I (Still) Like This?’, a collaboration of Nicole’s words and performance, direcetd by debuting Arden Winant. This great, conversational play was introduced to the Fringe last year, and has happily returned, treating us to a highly polished hour of an exceptionally well-delivered performance.
She would be mainly portraying the mania of ADHD, or rather the pain you have before you discover that you even have it. The play-title’s meaning began to unravel at the same pace of the show, which went from wild-fire to taking great and gentle care. Such performance poles showed her keen awareness and a sense for separating scenes that helped the story grow, while her great love of theatre was enjoyably obvious.
Why Am I (Still) Like This? ia a most meaningful tribute to ADHD diagnoses that are continuously popping-up across the planet. Nicole felt her way with moving naturality through both the turmoil of the loss of strength on one hand, and the unwavering certainty of the kind of failure there is no way out of experiencing. She’s a poor girl raging at the mirror, peering deeply into it but finding only her confused self laid down before her, like the final brick in a tomb.
At the end, in a powerful transition, she slipped out of character with a great smile. The levels of worthwhileness cascaded through a room truly entertained, truly engaged and truly in the state of the compassion this play was so able to bring. A star at the Fringe, a page from a great book, and the most pleasant acting you’ll find.
Daniel Donnelly
themumble.uk 