Review: Blueberry Play

Stepping onto the stage in a big blueberry costume, Julia Robertson had the audience’s attention. They laughed at the fact she wanted to look like Violet Beauregarde from Charlie & The Chocolate Factory but sluttier. Written by Ang Collins, Blueberry Play is a one-woman monologue that explores the life of a 17-year-old girl, her family life and adolescence.

Julia Robertson captured the hearts of the audience with her brilliant acting as she navigated her way through different characters and made you feel what she was feeling. When she grabbed her backpack and shook it with anger, we could feel all the teenage angst of falling in love while battling inner demons. A handjob proved funny and gross at the same time, while our hearts broke for her father as he struggled against cancer.

The monologue itself was amazing there was no need for the strange graphics of hot sauce or the dog with the crown roaming the background —  it made the play feel a bit cheap. Blueberry Play hit home with its social relevance; it was almost as if our lives were being played out, from the awkward first sexual experiences to the inner conflict every teenager grapples with. It's a brilliant play that captured the audience with its quirky humour and realistic situations.