**** 4 STARS
As I venture back to Glasgow from my first Fringe day of this year – I’m left with one question to answer: who done it? I’m thinking of The Dahlia Files by HEY THANKS! Theatre, written and performed by Trystan Youngjohn.
‘January 15th, 1947 – the mutilated body of a young woman was found in an abandoned lot. It became one of the most famous unsolved cases in true crime history. The Black Dahlia has never been able to tell her story, that is, until tonight.’
Trystan is magnetic from the off – eyes full of mystery as they analyse the room and we are pulled into her world of playing detective. They are going to find their murderer – Elizabeth Short’s killer.
This storytelling show is full of impeccable comedic timing, audience interaction and gut wrenching moments around violence towards women. We as the audience are not only observing. We’re learning. We’re connecting. We’re taking a trip through history. Trystan flows on stage with a regal presence and sensuality, through Kate Stamoulis’ strong direction in such an intimate space, and the story balances soft moments around grief and parental trauma. It’s easy to feel empathy for our lead.
The show wasn’t without its hitches: the lighting at certain points unfortunately creates small barriers where we don’t see Trystan’s face as lit as we’d like – however, this does lend a sombre feel to it that somehow amplifies the darkness of the subject. Music is central throughout the show, however, levels at points do sadly cause us to lose a few lines.
One by one, we find out about the potential suspects – all men, some even famous, yet no real perpetrator is found guilty. All we are left with is a young woman, brutally murder who is a victim of this world. A world where crime podcasts now monetise off exploring our lead’s death decades later.
I asked myself after, who is to blame? Whilst no guilty party was ever held accountable, to me a society of ingrained misogyny is ultimately our culprit. And sadly, a theme that still resonates now in 2025, like it did in 1947.
The Dahlia Files: Chamber Room at PBH’s Free Fringe, Banshee Labyrinth
