This a story about an unlikely friendship with a 50-year age gap. Told by real life siblings, Madie and Marcus, through narrative storytelling, piano playing, and some interesting songs.
Maddie meets her friend, 87-year-old Darcy on an online friendship app that her nieces (that she didn’t talk to) made for her. This led to Maddie showing up to the old ladies’ front door unannounced and clad in sweaty gym wear. From that day on their friendship flourished.
This performance has a soft warm glow about it, not just because of the light radiating from the giant dandelion-shaped chandelier, but also in the way the story is told. At times it is desperately sad but also weirdly comforting.
Here, a magnifying glass is created of Darcy’s last few years of life as an elderly widow/divorcee through the eyes of her new friend. It is not clear how long it was before her death that Maddie met Darcy, but it is clear that they both made a huge impact on each other.
During their friendship, Darcy shares the death of her wife Vera, who passed away 30 years prior and who nicknamed her “Dandelion” because of the way her hair stuck up. She also told her even bigger secrets such as her desire to die, and the date she wanted to do it.
Her brother, Marcus, plays the piano throughout, and occasionally acts as the voice of Darcy. The song most frequently chosen by Marcus is “People Die All the Time”, a joyously unserious song about death and its familiarity.
While most Edinburgh Fringe shows can be rather in-your-face, this show allows the audience to slow down and truly feel the story being played out. And maybe laugh a bit at the same time. Thoroughly recommended.
Goodbye Dandelion, 16:10, Belly Dancer at Underbelly, Cowgate, 5th-30th (not 18th)
