27

A brilliant performance from the dynamic actors on stage. Brian Mckign as Morgan brought the rapid comedic responses that really kept the piece moving and his Mooseped monologue was a hit among the audience. Henry Dolgoff as Hank portrayed the stress and vulnerability of not knowing how aid someone you love in need with authenticity and truthfulness. Henry was able to do this while simultaneously making the audience laugh at energy turn, displaying his dynamic acting skills and range. Douglas Yannaghas playing Jam brought heart and the conflict to the piece. He shined during each of his monologues, the stand out was his monologue where he focuses on his past and the people who are no longer in his life. The dialogue in this piece was truthful and raw, Congratulations to all of the team and to Douglas for his first written Fringe show!

27, Edinburgh Festival, Lauriston Halls

A poignant, touching, hilarious play. It is reminiscent in one aspect to
Shallow Grave togetherness of flat mates, meets the closeness of the 3 males we have gotten to know and love from Friends ( with a Chandeler, Ross,and Joey dynamic,) to themes in The Son by Florian Zeller, which played in London’s, West End, which beautifully tackles suicide.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/feb/27/the-son-review-florian-zeller-family-kiln

Clever writing with each part excellently executed. I ask … If Fleabag after it’s Fringe First can become a six part BBC TV show or an off Broadway play on anxiety booms. Why then can this not have legs to walk? See- example -

https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/THE-IMPORTANCE-OF-BEING-ANXIOUS-Comes-to-NYC-Fringe-20240223

For, I see this of a similar calibre!

At its core, it is a piece which is about male friendship. Could this then open doors and path way for men to share with one another? Let’s hope! The over familiarity, contempt and love, which comes from that dynamic of knowing one another too well from living together was made real on stage played out beautifully!

“ I don’t want to have to get another flat mate!”
Just brilliant!
At a turning point moment “Hank the Yank,” known to his mates, consumed with concern due his friends announcement, shows the truth in this absurd remark and the truth we consider when faced with trauma.

Great shifts of pace from dark to light!
Loved!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Although as well as tackling mental health we look at the arts industry...
" You got the advert because your eyes are the right distance apart," exposing the unfairness, “lookism,” and truths behind the casting world. Things that need said about the unfairness of living in squalor as an artist in modern day whilst other countries actually choose to fund their artists.

Therefore it’s a political piece!

It depicts and explores how challenging that constant rejection can be for your mental health even after graduating from top arts schools. Why so many do change path, give up or seek to throw the towel in a battle to preserve their sanity!

How it is hard not to feel you are failing when the outer marker is the pressure society puts on us to have supposed assets like mortgages before aged 30. It also touches on how we recover after relationships fail. How we can’t always just “bounce back!” How the culminating effect of career worries, love hurts and pressure as an artist could be too much!

It was a wet day in Edinburgh! A day for poncho sellers to make a buck. However, I am glad we went through the rain to catch this gem of a piece on closing night. I hope it goes on to get the accolade it deserves through other opening nights and lives on to have life past Edinburgh festival 2024!

This is a piece which hits and will sit with you after curtain down.

Lesley J Russell
Theatre Reviews

A fantastic piece of new Scottish writing - balancing comedy and drama expertly with a brilliant cast and excellent direction. A touching and hilarious piece about working in the arts, friendship and mental health. I really hope it can come back after such a short run!

27 (****)
The “Glasgow Three” are three twenty something men who met at drama school, and now live together going nowhere while they hold dead end jobs. Though we hear how one earned his nickname, and how the group initially met, the meat of the play is how all three now deal with one of them planning on committing suicide at the party the night before his 28th birthday to garner noteriety for the other two. While there are a couple scenes of drunken parties, the explicit demonstrations of caring raise this above your typical frat boy show


This is the 10th most enjoyable of the 32 shows I have seen so far at the Fringe this year. I hope to see more than 150 this year. You may see my other three-sentence reviews, in order from most enjoyable to worst, at my non-commercial website: https://fringefan.com/

This is a pedigree Fringe show-one to bring the talents to the world.
No fluffs but a lot of energy and meaningful performance. I wish they would mention the play author, who is quite a talented observer. The actors delivered some recognisable characters in the understandable circumstances.

Cold Open Theatre (Scotland) is a new name the Fringe brought this year. Will def keep eyes on them. Good luck, guys!

27 is brilliantly written, directed and performed. Fantastically funny and also thought provoking. Went with a group of mates and it ensured a great Friday night out for all of us... Highlight of my week and this year's Edinburgh Frindge personally. Make this a must see if you haven't already... the vibes, Nirvana and Amy Winehouse tunes/cosplay sweeten the deal even more... Thanks to the creative team for a truly enjoyable evening!! Hats off to the actors and crew involved!

A funny and very human venture into what it means to be an artist, men’s mental health and bizarre nicknames. Well written, well acted and well staged. Absolutely something to watch.

A delightful and funny show despite its darker themes. My partner, who is very hard to please, and I were so impressed by the writing and the performances by the three young actors. Catch it while you can!