Writer: Ruth Berkoff
Hannah feels like she’s the awkward one. The one who can’t find the right words at the right time. The one who feels left out in a crowd. And you can’t say she hasn’t tried – but a work party, a sex party and a rave all leave her feeling equally lonely. So she’s decided she has the answer – to go and live as a sheep.
Sheep don’t have human worries – they don’t think about paying the bills, going to work or getting sick. They just ‘be’, and Hannah likes the idea of that. So she’s throwing a goodbye party before she leaves for the ‘big field’ where she’s off to join the herd.
Berkoff proves herself to be a compelling and likeable performer in this quirky hour-long show. She starts by revealing the contents of a suitcase item by item and goes about transforming herself with a wonderfully pulled together ragtag costume. Then she goes about trying to convince the audience, and herself, that this new life choice is the right one. With sheep facts, stories, songs and lots of audience interaction, Berkoff creates a beautifully balanced performance that veers from warm and funny to tender and painfully honest. The surprisingly catchy songs, which Berkoff delivers to well put-together backing tracks, are nicely slotted in to the show.
Berkoff has written a great script. It’s unfortunate that she’s under-rehearsed at times, losing the flow of the piece, and while she covers well using the conceit of ‘a list of things she must remember to tell us’ at her going-away party, the piece would be much stronger without the interruptions. That aside, The Beauty of Being Herd offers a subtle and clever way to talk about feeling like an outsider. Berkoff has wrapped some uncomfortable topics with amiable humour. She gets the closely packed audience on side right from the start, making for smoothly delivered and fun interactions. She invites us to frolic and baa and everyone does it.
With The Beauty of Being Herd, Berkoff is making work that fits the Fringe bill perfectly, and it’s great to discover a performer that’s well worth looking out for in future.
Runs until 17th July 2024
