Parasocial Activity: A Gem of Fringe Theatre (Fringe review) 5 Stars *****

Last year in Do Astronauts Masturbate in Space, Gallus and Silly Mission Productions gave us a brilliant piece of theatre that was well-imagined, thought through and delivered with panache. I struggled when I left Greenside at Riddle’s Court last year to imagine what could top it. Parasocial Activity takes it to a new level.

This is an exceptional piece of theatre with a fascinating premise. Jenny decides to come up from London, where she is attempting to make her life as an actress, to surprise her mother for Mother’s Day. She does this on Glasgow Sauchiehall Street’s Costa and whilst with her mum, discovers that her favourite A-list celebrity, James McAvoy, has come in for a caffeine fix. McAvoy gets her tickets to his show and there begins a relationship, ending with Jenny up a tree about to murder Mrs. McAvoy.

Jenny, though an incredibly convincing narrator, is not telling the truth, the whole truth – she’s attempting to give you everything but the truth. She is arrested and convicted; she has been having a delusional episode.

Briony Martha has penned and delivered onstage a brilliant piece of theatre. Initially she presents Jenny as incredibly endearing – you truly become convinced by her story. Halfway through where she starts to talk about the conversations with McAvoy and how they’re planning to kill his wife – his idea, she keeps reminding us – before the shock of her suddenly being in the dock and arrested is beautifully poised and delivered.

If Martha has the idea and the words, Megan Brewer has taken that onstage to convincing new heights. She has a strong understanding not just of how to make something funny, but how to set your audience up for a fall.

A key aspect is that Martha is alone onstage but uses microphone stands to become her mother and brother. It’s very clever and highly effective.

This is a gem of Fringe Theatre. Two years in a row they have brought something worth watching – whatever is next this will be tough to follow, but you get a sense that they have only just begun.

Parasocial Activity is at Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose until 31st August