You And Me (And Whoever Comes Next) theatre review: Care and compassion
This play explores disabled experiences with unwavering empathy, delving into the nuances of care-giving and the complexities of relationships
Much of the brilliance of You And Me (And Whoever Comes Next) comes from the way in which it integrates its story into a dramaturgy that recognises how theatre about disability can discover an appropriate way to present itself without patronising the actors. The plot is dramatic but unravels itself at a measured, steady pace as it explores the specifics of a relationship between Keron Day and his carer. There is humour and dramatic tension, and the compassion shown to the characters allows its script to pose broader questions about how care can work and what motivates the carer. The cast of four are comfortable slipping in and out of character, which adds to the homely sincerity. Day is at the production’s centre, capable of winning over the audience with wry humour.
A series of episodes show the development, and the collapse, of a specific carer relationship, and exposes Day’s anxiety about holding onto them. He constructs a false personality, all football and hotdogs, in the hope of not driving them away but also acknowledges that carers have their own problems to negotiate. By addressing disability as both the subject and the focus of how the production presents itself, You And Me (And Whoever Comes Next) balances the tension between performance and emotional honesty. Never spectacular, it rescales theatre to the size of the humans, making it immediate, winning and kind-hearted without sacrificing darker elements.
You And Me (And Whoever Comes Next), Summerhall, until 29 August, 3pm.