Scorch: A World Immersed In Games Of Fantasy And Popular Culture – Adelaide Fringe Review

Holden Street Theatres – The Studio, Fri 17 Feb. This much acclaimed show out of Ireland had a tough start to its Adelaide Fringe season. A disappointingly small audience made it difficult for Stacey Gregg to punch the show home with the energy it deserves. Still, she managed to get several important messages across – online is a dangerous and confusing place for young people struggling to find their identity; ‘actual, real’ life is even more so. And if there is any doubt about your gender in your teen years, you can pretty much guarantee being misunderstood in both worlds. The social life of Scorch’s main character is held mainly online. Immersed in games of fantasy, and a world of popular culture where celebrities are her role models, she lives in a cocooned world where there are mostly happy endings. In an effective form of audience engagement she returns periodically to talk directly with her audience, her inner circle, to tell us how she’s going in her virtual world before being distracted back once more to join her online peers. When she naively and innocently steps out into the real world disaster awaits, and you kind of get why some people may actually prefer to stay online. Scorch portrays a slice of a new kind of life. Engaging and intelligent, Gregg is tormented and bemused by the confusing choices unfolding before her. She finds out the hard way that real life is not like the movies, but is still able to maintain an endearing sense of curious self-examination of her life, and even sees its funny side when she can distance herself from the pain of it all. Come and join her inner circle and learn why real life for some is not all it’s cracked up to be! 3.5 stars Michael Coghlan Scorch continues at the Holden Street Theatres – The Studio from 6pm until Sun 19 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.