With an opening disclaimer that some of what follows is true, some isn’t and “the rest is none of your fucking business”, the sexy, silly, thrilling ROLEPLAY neatly and knowingly gyrates away from the controversy experienced by its producer Francesca Moody with Baby Reindeer and indulges artistic licence to explore a multitude of tricky issues. Written and performed solo by the audacious Hannah Reilly, the show asks whether female sexual empowerment can survive commercialisation and intimate sharing with all and sundry.
A small-time podcaster with a show about sex and relationships, Danielle is suddenly propelled into the big leagues when a bigshot American producer shows an interest in her, offering her the backing of a major platform if she can extend her tongue-in-cheek, slutty brand to a no holds-barred, sexual safari that will wrest young women away from their true crime listening. Danielle’s initial efforts to find racy content aren’t universally successful as she comically breaks a dungeon master. But she feels emboldened by stripping. And despite projecting an image of being an uninhibited girl-about-town, has a clandestine, boundary-pushing relationship with a new squeeze and a strained bond with a disapproving mother to push.
With Reilly committing to the erotic spectacle, the upfront ROLEPLAY proceeds at pace and doesn’t truly resolve who’s exploiting who, or simply advocate for sex work, leaving itself admirably open-ended even as it ventures into grim #MeToo territory. She’s dynamite as Danni, by turns wittily vivacious and maddeningly lacking in self-awareness, high on her own sex appeal.
ROLEPLAY, Summerhall, until 31 Aug (not 25), 5.50pm