Gush Review: Jessica Hardwick Shines in Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre Monologue
Jessica Hardwick delivers a superb performance in Jess Brodie's monologue Gush at the Traverse theatre in Edinburgh. This production, directed by Becky Hope-Palmer, offers a witty and gripping exploration of life on the brink of parenthood, focusing on a mother-to-be surfing a maelstrom of emotions.
A Profound Transition Explored with Depth and Humour
There are few transitions in life more profound than becoming a parent. Out go late nights and long lie-ins, replaced by immense responsibility. This experience demands a complete redefinition, turning individuals from cared-for to carer, and from solo players to team captains. Even as it approaches, the knowledge that it will change you is undeniable.
Playwright Jess Brodie identifies this as the still point of the turning world: not the birth itself, but the moment before. It is a time to look back, reflect, and reappraise as much as to speculate on the unknown path ahead. Tenderly stroking an enormous belly, Ally embodies all the anxieties of a first-time mother-to-be, from uncomfortable nights and avoiding toxic foods to the clock-watching of maternity leave.
Self-Realisation Amidst Impending Change
At its core, Brodie's monologue delves into a quest for self-realisation rather than just the familiar stresses of pregnancy. The impending birth acts like a timebomb, ticking ever louder as Ally races to figure out whether her middle-class life with a neurotic, controlling, and overworked partner is one to which she is fully committed. Could it be time to listen to those sexual urges she has long denied herself?
While the theme is narrow in focus and its politics self-absorbed, Gush maintains a tight grip on its audience through Brodie's witty and fluent writing. The play springs narrative surprises and explores feminist desires to stop people-pleasing, though it remains solipsistic in its introspection.
A Superb Performance in a Fine-Tuned Production
In Becky Hope-Palmer's fine-tuned studio production, Jessica Hardwick gives a truly superb performance. On a set by Becky Minto that features a brittle white surface juxtaposed with an inviting pool of cushions—symbolising the tension between the alien and the cosy—Hardwick surfs the waves of emotion with tremendous sensitivity.
Her voice is sonorous and precise, brilliantly capturing Brodie's switches in tone from ironic to panicked, embarrassed to erotic, and furious to funny. Gush is worth seeing for Hardwick's performance alone, showcasing her ability to navigate complex emotional landscapes with authenticity and depth.
The production runs at the Traverse theatre in Edinburgh until 25 April, offering audiences a poignant and engaging look at the emotional complexities of impending parenthood.
