Review by Lucy Holz
Ever heard of Raynaud’s? Me neither. But Geraldine Hickey is here to tell you all about it, so if someone ever tells you they have it, you can generate the correct response (and it’s not ‘oh yeah?’)
Hickey’s new show at Edinburgh Fringe this year focuses largely on getting older and what that means, in terms of new conditions (Raynaud’s), new grief (the funeral of her father), and new physical challenges (climbing Arthur’s Seat). It’s a comfortable hour in an intimate venue where we all get very well acquainted.
She begins her set telling us we’re welcome to spread out, and her audience interactions from there feel more like chatting with friends than performative crowd work. Once her hour is up, the audience are clamouring to speak to her about shared experiences, and eager to get selfies on stage. In a group of first-time Geraldine Hickey show attenders, she has successfully converted every single one into a fan.
It’s my second time seeing Hickey at the fringe (I was recruited into the fan club at last year’s show). She lacks some confidence this time around, seeming to struggle to vocalise some more personal passages without stumbling. This is not surprising, talking about losing a parent and the ensuing aftermath on stage to a live audience would not be an easy experience. This topic does elicit more sighs of sympathy than laughs, with the most appreciated section revolving around her multiple trips up Arthur’s Seat.
As someone who accidentally climbed the wrong mountain thinking it was Arthur’s Seat last year, this material is just as relatable to me as it is for the Edinburgh locals in the front row. Hickey rounds out her performance with a hilarious slideshow, creating an homage to drinking and proving some points she made during her set.
It’s a perfectly spent hour, with a real feeling of camaraderie created amongst the audience by Hickey. She has promised herself a whiskey when she sells out a show and I believe it is our duty to help get her there.
Image Supplied