★★★★
When Juniper (Meg Louise Wilson) and Jules (Carmella Brown) meet at a birthday party, one thing is clear: despite their awkward introductory conversations, they have a strong connection. They quickly fall head over heels in love, and form what looks like a fairy-tale relationship.
But as we all know, no relationship is perfect, and Juniper and Jules’ is no exception. Juniper is very possessive, and expects to always know where Jules is. Jules’ perky demeanour begins to grate on Juniper, and they dislike the way they acts in front of their friends. On the other hand, Jules is intimidated by Juniper’s friends and tires of their controlling behaviour. Although they once laughed at couples who argue constantly, they fall into a rut, and try various methods to break out of it.
Both characters are very likeable, which is in part due to the brilliance of Stephanie Martin‘s script. We see them arguing, but we rarely see the catalyst for the argument, which makes it nearly impossible to take a side. The other part is, of course, down to the fantastic acting from Wilson and Brown. Wilson is charismatic yet vulnerable as the cracks in her cool façade begin to grow. Brown’s performance seems slightly nervous at first, which fits well with their character, but as the play progresses, their character becomes more bubbly and outspoken, without becoming irritating.
A number of explicit themes are included in the performance, one of which is ethical non-monogamy, which many of Juniper’s friends follow. Jules is fascinated by this, and despite Juniper originally stating they are too jealous for that, they decide to try it in a bid to save their relationship. It is interesting to watch them navigate this, although it might not be to everyone’s taste. Still, the chemistry between the actors is undeniable. The causal touches and knowing glances make their relationship seem all the more convincing.
While perhaps not a show to watch with your granny, Juniper and Jules is a beautiful story, documenting the highs and lows of falling in love, as well as the issues that LGBTQA+ people face in relationships.
Juniper and Jules will be performed at Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two from 6-26 August (not 12 or 19) at 1:45pm as part of Edinburgh Fringe 2024.
Words by Ellen Leslie
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