VL – Roundabout @ Summerhall

Hilariously parochial! VL stands for Virgin Lips, a label that no teenager wants to be saddled with.

When Max and Stevie, two wee Scottish F…., oops lads, miss the bus to the end of year 2 school disco at the local ice rink, they are in two minds to just go home to watch telly instead. After all, Robin Hood Prince Of Thievesis on!

But no, they have to go, because at least one of them is a VL and this might just be his last chance to pop that cherry. And if your still a VL after tonight, before you go into 3^rd year, you just might be a VL forever!

Seasoned comedy writers and performers, Kieran Hurley and Gary McNair play it just about perfect as the day-glow-clad youngsters trying to navigate romance in the hormonal pressure cooker of Hammersten High School.

Stevie has, technically, already lost his lip-virginity, but as Max knows too well the use of prefix ‘technically, to any of Steve’s statements calls authenticity into serious question.

So they wait on the bus to join their 1200 peers with blades attached to their feet, and the inevitable minority who will try to set fire to the ice, again. Along the way we hear about ogre-like teachers, Binbags, the token Goth, who is untouchable because he doesn’t care, and the rapping insult machine that is Wee Cosa.

Hilariously observed and Painfully close to the truth of growing up in small town Scotland in the 80’s. Behind the hilarity, their vulnerability is touching. Will they lose their VL status or will they get a ‘pinger’ trying?!

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 8th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: