Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Skank at Pleasance Courtyard

Kate is stuck in a boring job that was only meant to be temporary; she has tinnitus in one ear that won’t stop ringing; plus, she can’t find a proper place to recycle her empty can of beans. On top of this, she cannot stop thinking about all the ways she could possibly die. Performed by Clementine Bogg-Hargroves, Skank is a story about a young woman trying to live a well-balanced life while also dealing with chronic anxiety that makes everyday living almost unbearable.  

Bogg-Hargroves’ Kate is endearing, as she acknowledges the presence of the audience and tells her story directly to them. As voiceovers of her annoying co-workers drone on, she periodically shoots conspiratorial glances at the audience. She is sharp and sometimes biting, coming out with witticisms such as, “When you’re smart, it’s just harder to be happy.” In one particularly amusing scene, she talks through her method of seductive dancing: find the perfect balance of sexy and silly moves and intersperse them with periods of falsified contemplation, so that you look like you’re having deep thoughts. 

Yet, despite her charisma and humour, Kate is struggling with unseen fears. The signs of her anxiety range from subtle (such as the reference to watching seven buses pass by before plucking up the courage to get on one) to explicit, as she asks, “Why does everything make me think about death?”. As if she’s not already worried enough about the possibility that her body will fail her, uncertain results from a Pap smear only prompt further apprehension. 

The overwhelming effect of being in a constant state of fear is mirrored by the periodic ringing sound effect of Kate’s tinnitus. As it increases in volume, it creates a suffocating atmosphere, seeming to fill the small room and becoming inescapable. This, combined with Bogg-Hargroves’ intermittent addresses to the audience, produces the effect of engrossing the crowd in the character’s fears and crowded mind. The overall impact of this is somewhat uncomfortable. However, it’s a discomfort that is necessary for making what is real in Kate’s mind real for the audience as well.

As the sole actress on stage, Bogg-Hargroves carries the show with her humorously exaggerated facial expressions and energetic performance. She manages to make loveable not only the character of Kate, but even the bean can that Kate cannot seem to let go of. Ultimately, Skank successfully toes a delicate line between comedy and calamity, deftly depicting the gamut of human emotions in the modern world.

Madison Sotos

Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Skank is at Pleasance Courtyard from 25^th August until 29^th August 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

For further information about Edinburgh Fringe 2022 visit the festival website here.