Stunning Vocal Talent: Girlfriends Review | Ellen Leslie

‍ ★★★

Anyone who’s ever been heartbroken will relate to Scout (Sara Malinowski), the protagonist of Girlfriends. After her boyfriend dumps her, she sets off on a road trip in her 1998 Honda Civic across the USA armed with £200, a radio that seems to only play breakup songs, and a vague goal of seeing as many beautiful things as possible.

‍Along the way she meets Oliska, a Starbucks barista who pays for her coffee after she realises she can’t afford it. The pair click instantly, and after a long dinner at a local diner, Scout persuades her to come along on her road trip. What unfolds is a story of revelations, perseverance and a blossoming new relationship.

‍All characters are played by Malinowski, and she is particularly effective in the role of Scout. Her facial expressions are brilliant, and she is often either crying or on the verge of tears, which demonstrates her fragile mental state perfectly.

‍While the concept is great, the plot requires more work. Some points are thrown in and not discussed: I’m sure she said they were mugged, but this is just mentioned once and not elaborated on. The Shakespeare monologues go on for too long, and their relevance to the plot isn’t clear.

‍That being said, there are lots of interesting discussions about body image and comparison to other women. Malinowski perfectly captures a complex feeling that many women can relate to: being envious that your friend is being flirted with when you’re not remotely attracted to the man. Scout speaks about how self-conscious she feels next to Oliska, and how she compares their bodies. The show could have benefitted from exploring Scout’s feelings of discomfort towards Oliska’s “damsel in distress” act, but overall, the play’s feminist themes really come through.

‍Malinowski has an incredibly powerful voice, and it’s such a treat to listen to. She fully commits to each song, despite the small audience. I’d love to see her play to her strengths more, and lean more into the musical part of the road trip: the songs are almost an afterthought but they are the highlight of the show.

It doesn’t come across that the two characters are dating. While there are some sweet moments, Oliska comes across as dismissive and mean to Scout. She greatly overreacts when Scout accidentally spills beer on her when she’s trying to wake her up, and it isn’t nice to watch. For the most part, their dynamic is more akin to the cool, rebel girl taking the shy girl under her wing rather than a romantic relationship. Having another actress would help to bring out their chemistry and feelings for each other.

Malinowski is such a bubbly and likeable performer, it’s hard not to enjoy Girlfriends. It is a bold and brave play that explores themes that will resonate with a large audience, and with a little more refinement, it can easily be excellent.

Girlfriends will be performed at Greenside @ George Street – Jade Studio until 29 August as part of Edinburgh Fringe.

‍ ‍By Ellen Leslie