Last Orders
★★★★☆ Absurdist queer comedy
Bedlam Theatre, (Venue 49): Fri 7 – Tue 18 Aug 2026
Review by Sarah Barnard
Buds and bros get complicated at the Bedlam Theatre in Last Orders, one of Edinburgh University Theatre Company’s selected shows this year.
Occasionally baggy but buoyed by the joy of its own silliness, this absurd fantasia on American masculinity defies political polarisation by way of gender play in the Deep South – which might be Texas, or Arizona… or perhaps Wyoming?
The cast of Last Orders. Pic: Violet-Studdert Kennedy.
Geographical ambiguity aside, one thing to be sure of is that the boys, played by an all-female cast of four, are back in town. The cold open is on Ma, played by Lauryn McGuire (an effortless comic performer, doing double duty here as Ma/Waitress). Her husband tragically passed away, his bar is without a barman, and their sons, despite being the manliest men around, are layabouts – what’s a mother to do?
Thankfully, her literal prayers are quickly answered as Jeremy (Nina Ceretti) agrees to take on the bar. Business is good – there are multiple scenes reminiscent of Jim Cartwright’s Two, with Jeremy serving up a stream of patter and drinks to unseen patrons – and with the Waitress (McGuire) hired despite her complete lack of relevant experience, plus brother John (Bella Burgess) propping up the bar, everything seems to be going well.
But there’s a name from the past written in bright red letters on the wall, and he (she?) is sure to turn up before the end of the play…
charismatic
Ceretti and Burgess both give charismatic performances, with Jeremy’s hangdog dopiness playing nicely off John’s firebrand hollering. A wide-eyed Southern belle with hidden depths, McGuire’s Waitress is a great character turn, capable of sending the audience into convulsions with a single raised eyebrow. Joining these three late in the play, Ava Godfrey instantly commands the stage as the mysterious returning Ricky, affectionately known as Rick Astley, though she’s given little to do.
Barring the excellent lip sync setpieces, this is a kind a hangout comedy, albeit one with a penchant for the surreal and some things to say about gender. Elspeth Frith’s script is packed with one-liners (“Men don’t gossip! We confer!”) and great running jokes. There’s also plenty of physical comedy including an impressive milk chug, and some good visual gags.
Ruth Duncan and Maximilian Kinsky’s simple bar set is effective and provides some visual jokes of its own. The posters are also probably very funny, but too small to be legible from the audience. The costume design’s details are easier to read and the dedication to procuring multiple different Budweiser t-shirts is appreciated.
The piece could benefit at times from stronger direction from Frith, who both writes and directs, with some scenes seemingly losing their thread. But wherever it meanders, it’s a show with its heart and its funny-bone firmly in the right place.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
Bedlam Theatre (Auditorium), 11b Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ (Venue 49).
Friday 7 – Tuesday 18 August 2026.
Daily (not Mon 17): 12.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
Instagram: @lastordersfringe
ENDS
