The Brenda Line – Traverse Theatre
Inspired by the lesser-known history of the Samaritans in the 1970s and ’80s, The Brenda Line is about Karen (Charlotte Grayson) and Anne (Fiona Bruce), a new-start and an old-hand during their first Samaritans nightshift together. Both are there to answer the phone and help callers (voiced here by Colin McCrodie, Eden Barrie, and Ali Watt), with Karen also hoping to get inspiration for a book out of them. However, reality and experience don't always live up with ideals, not least of which through the existence of the Brenda Line, the Samaritans philanthropic sex-line.
Grayson and Bruce effectively anchor the show through their performances, with Bruce in particular conveying well the earthy weariness of reality against Grayson's two-dimensional idealism and imagination. Harry Mould...