A new Lockerbie play is unexpected, especially as there have been many explorations of the events of 21 December 1988 in various forms over the years. However, this version is different: it is the story of a student and her classmates, and a life lived after that those lost did not get to see. It is an homage to those the writer and performer Annie Lareau had known and lost in the devastating explosion of that night. Through this driven performance, we hear about, see, and meet some of the human beings who were lost that night, and the impact that survivor’s guilt leaves on Lareau. She is accompanied by two other performers, Peter Dylan O’Connor and Brenda Joyner who manage to cover an impressive array of other characters.
As a student Lareau was part of a study abroad semester to London, living and studying there with her friends from Syracuse University, scheduled to fly home at Christmas the day after her friends. She tried to change the flight to the same day but could not afford to: this saved her life. Told through a combination of direct address, flashbacks, voiceovers, large screen photos and memories from the time, it is personal, an emotional rollercoaster. Coupled with Lareau’s ongoing nightmares at the time about plane crashes (before Lockerbie) happened, it makes us think about how life unfolds.
Some of the most striking parts are the photos from that time, and the discussion of objects that were part of their lives. The recovery of those objects – which have been kindly and carefully retrieved from the crash site to return to their families - brings moments of compassion from strangers and connects Lareau’s lived experience with the items that have survived.
The aftermath of being a survivor is a difficult journey for many, and this is no less difficult for Lareau which she covers with heartbreaking honesty. Her fellow performers fill in the roles of the others in the situation and this helps us to recognise the sheer breadth of people who have been impacted then and now. It is not all sadness – there are moments of humour as people try to find hope in the darkness.
Deftly written and performed with empathy and care, this is a great new addition to the Lockerbie canon. While there are a couple of sections that could be trimmed slightly to help the pace flow at times, this is a worthwhile watch and the moment at the end where objects are connected, and the connection to people and their past is laid bare, hits with intensity.
Show Time: 17-25 Aug (not 19) @ 15:45
Pleasance Courtyard
Ticket Prices: £14-£17
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/fuselage
Warnings: This show contains strong language & distressing or potentially triggering themes.
Space Accessibility: Accessible entry: Main queue on road outside. Lift access through Pleasance Bar — ask at Box Office or bar for assistance. Performance space is on the First Floor up 20 steps on a permanent stone staircase that has handrails. Lift dimensions are 1200mm x 1200mm, max. weight 500kg. The lift can accept power wheelchairs. Wheelchair access type: Lift (Building Lift). Wheelchair Access, Wheelchair Accessible Toilets, Audio Enhancement System. Stairs: 11-20. Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above. May not apply to all performances.
Age Suitability: 14+ (Guideline). Babes in arms policy: Babies do not require a ticket. Policy applies to: Children under 2 years. Age restrictions: Accompanied under-16s permitted until 00:00, 16-17-year-olds until 03:00.