Unravel
★★★☆☆ Dense
theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (Venue 53): Mon 18 – Sat 23 Aug 2025
Review by Salvador Kent
Mon Espoir’s new play Unravel, playing theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall for the final two weeks of the Fringe, is a work with philosophical density and formal surprises. Unfortunately, its perspectives on the subjects tackled are not offered to the audience with clarity.
Arya, a new mother gets mysteriously trapped in her flat in a play that sets off as if it were the sort of one person show that’s ten a penny the Fringe. But a disembodied voice quickly interrupts proceedings and it becomes much more interesting.
Solene Capaldi in Unravel. Pic Mon Espoir.
The voice is totally postmodern – it is philosophically literate whilst also singing I Want It That Way. It talks of generational trauma and Gods while it acts mostly as foil to Arya.
Solene Capaldi as Aya performs the material well. She maintains integrity in a physically demanding fifty minute performance, and has some moments of vulnerability and tenderness.
Oscar Macdonald, also the writer of the play, is the disembodied voice, and speaks the part live through a microphone (which could be turned down a notch) from behind the curtain. He does so with a sort of salesman voice which is quite funny.
omniscient
The writer playing an omniscient, omnipresent voice is a nice meta touch. Gabriela Krumova co-directs the piece alongside Macdonald with a good eye for the stage picture and paces the play well. A compelling moment of stage poetry is achieved with yarn. The construction of a “fourth wall” is witty and engaging.
However, the play has a few problems. An important plot point referred to in the copy as an “unimaginable sacrifice” has the violent intensity and shocking nature of an in-yer-face image but seems to be played as a dark joke that doesn’t function. The philosophy is often delivered at a breakneck speed that means that whilst it’s very clever, it feels alienating rather than immersive.
Solene Capaldi in Unravel. Pic Mon Espoir.
The play does explore determinism, theology and especially generational trauma. The latter theme is touched on in a moving and original way. What these themes build towards, however, while clearly present in the script – are kept at an arm’s length from the audience.
Despite this, Unravel is an interesting piece. Mon Espoir is clearly a company with intellectually literate ideas which are original and have plenty of potential. In this case, their ideas need to be presented with a little more clarity, but this is not to say they should dilute them – rather they should find a form that encourages reflection from their audience, rather than alienates them.
Or, if they would like to alienate, they should hone in on some of the more intense stage images in the work. Still, they are an exciting company, and this project boasts a compelling performance.
Running time: 50 minutes (no interval).
theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall (Stephenson Theatre), Nicolson Street EH8 9DW (Venue 53).
Monday 18 – Saturday 23 August 2025.
Daily: 5.05pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Instagram: @mon_espoir_theatre
Solene Capaldi in Unravel. Pic Mon Espoir.
ENDS
