Red Like Fruit – Traverse Theatre

Good sex, bad sex, wrong sex. What’s the difference? And does it really matter? Why struggle to articulate something that no one wants to hear anyway…?

When a Canadian investigative journalist starts researching a high-profile domestic violence case, it leads her to relive and reconsider some of her own life experiences, the results are disarming and disturbing.

This beautifully constructed two hander from the pen of Hannah Moscovitch has Lauren’s (Michelle Monteith) story being delivered as a deliciously hypnotic monologue by Luke (David Patrick Flemming). Flemming’s voice control and delivery are the real star of this show, a symphony of tone and indent, emphasis and half-finished sentence are a joy to the ear.

Lauren sits on a raised Dias, swaying or head in hands as her truth is told. She occasionally interrupts or interjects to clarify points, or he or she breaks the third wall to talk directly to the audience. In this black box, where the details are laid out, with forensic detail we are the unwitting jury, asked to decide, In the Metoo era have we really moved on or are we just kidding ourselves, have we just become better at answering or avoiding the difficult questions.

Kaitlin Hickey and Alison Crosby do a tremendously simple but effective job on design and lighting and Director, Christian Barry pulls it all together with ease, making it feel like this show was written for this space and this time. The testimony is vivid, topical and beautifully written, the acting superlative. Top marks all round. 

Why did you ask me, a man, to tell your story? Because you are neutral and authoritative and steady,….and believable.

Times Vary – check venue – Till 24^th August

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/red-like-fruit

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 1^st August 2025

North West End UK Rating:  

Running time – 1hr 15mins