Writer: Philippa Dawson
Director: Nat Kennedy
Have you ever lost your keys? Got on the wrong train? Forgotten about the bath? Everyone’s done that at least once or twice, but for people with ADHD, it’s a daily battle. Such is the subject matter in Character Flaw, a rip-roaring adventure through the intricacies of living with ADHD and finding joy in a diagnosis.
The drum roll begins, and the curtains fly open to reveal: no one. Sole performer Philippa Dawson is late for her own show. Punctuality, among other things, is a symptom of ADHD, and something that Dawson is diagnosed with. As Dawson stamps onto the stage while searching through a large backpack to locate her lost phone, she likens her brain to a train station with hundreds of different tracks, and all the trains are ‘experiencing delays because of signalling problems’. Thus ensues an hour of storytelling and even musical performance to describe what it is like living with ADHD, and the chaos that sometimes comes with it.
Flooding buildings, almost killing cats, and multiple missed train connections are just some of the anecdotes that are delightfully raced through in Character Flaw. A disembodied Scottish voice, Jean (Charly Clive), is the hilarious representative of Dawson’s ADHD brain that succeeds in distracting and derailing the story at various moments. Seamless direction from Nat Kennedy and clearly thorough rehearsal make the heavy use of voice-over and sound incredibly effective.
Dawson’s capacity to hold the audience throughout the production must be commended, and a genuine comedic ability makes the whole show hugely enjoyable. At times the production is at risk of preaching instead of just showing, weakening more serious points about long NHS waiting lists and misrepresentation of the disorder in the media.
At its most powerful, however, Character Flaw is able to remind the audience ADHD isn’t just occasionally forgetting your bag or getting slightly distracted. For people with the disorder, it can plague every single waking moment. The resounding note is that while being able to name your problem is helpful, a group of letters cannot define you or dictate your capacity to be happy.
Reviewed on 6 July and then runs from 4th-26th August (Except 13th/20th) Greenside @ Nicolson Square – Lime Studio, Edinburgh Fringe
The Reviews Hub Score
Hugely Enjoyable
