Adore Me

Adore Me is a drama set in Perth, in those hazy days between Christmas and New Year. Presented by the Performing Arts Alumni Society for Fringe World, this is a well written, well performed production about people in their mid-twenties who are not the people they thought they’d be at 18, and how the past isn’t always what you thought it was.

Set in the share-home of Nick and Gemma, a group of long-term friends are gathered for a drunken evening together and we are given what could almost be an episode of Friends turned negative - dark, nasty, with some life-changing revelations.

Excellent performances and strong ensemble work throughout. Liam Crevola is excellent as the initially likeable but shockingly evil Nick. Courtney Lee brings great depth and charts an excellent journey as Gemma. Nicholas Austen and Miarka Rogers are very believable as couple Ollie and Sophia, while Tim Claxton is outstanding as Thomas whose inner turmoil is brought to the surface in some shocking, expertly acted scenes.

A fully realised production, Adore Me features ring-of-truth set and props by Anna Stewart and Troy Coeho, well chosen costumes by Eilish Campbell and effective sound design by Declan Barber and Bec Price. Kudos to Stage Manager Bec Price, as this is a show with a big bump in and bigger bump out each night.

While not for everyone, as it has very strong language and adult themes including eating disorders and sexual assault, this is a show that is well worth a look. This is one of the shows for which you may still be able to get tickets, despite the reduced capacities this week - and it is much stronger than some of the sold-out shows I have seen. A secret gem.

Kimberley Shaw

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