Holly Gifford
BLANDY by Lovelock Productions retells the notorious case of Mary Blandy, hanged in 1752 for poisoning her father. Framed as a punk‑inflected two‑hander, it leaps between Georgian parlour and present‑day vernacular, pushing theatrical boundaries until the stage feels ready to erupt into anarchy. I went in nervous that another historical drama with contemporary dialogue would be gimmicky; instead, it defied every expectation.
From lurid 18th‑century pamphlets to modern podcasts, Mary Blandy’s story has been recycled for centuries. Historically vilified as a cold‑blooded poisoner, she is now frequently re‑examined as a possible victim of manipulation. Lovelock’s “experimental comic drama” taps into our fascination with true crime, examining how women accused of monstrous acts are sensationalised, scapegoated and shamed.
The plot follows Mary, “desperately single” and pressured to marry, whose whirlwind romance with Scottish officer William Henry Cranstoun soon curdles. Secrets fester beneath the romance, and Mary makes a choice that will seal her fate. It all builds toward a moment of feverish near‑silence when Luke Nixon, playing Cranstoun opposite himself as Mary’s father, performs an entire duologue by himself. Opposite Georgie Dettmer’s steadfast Mary, we as an audience were completely absorbed throughout- a testament to both actors’ incredible range.
Dettmer brings vulnerability and fury to the title role, while Nixon shifts effortlessly from suitor to judge to servant… their chemistry continuously crackles. A bare stage with four benches morphs from parlour to courtroom through quick changes and a thumping soundscape. It’s messy, violent and unapologetically gross, but every design choice serves its chaotic ethos.
All these elements converge into something more than a quirky period piece. By pairing Mary’s story with modern comedy rhythms, BLANDY interrogates how we consume narratives about “monstrous” women and whether society has truly changed since 1752. The result is cathartic, outrageous and surprisingly moving. A feral fairytale that left me grinning and unsettled in equal measure.
Riotous, visceral and whip‑smart- BLANDY turns pigs and poison into a feral fairytale, daring you to laugh as it holds a mirror up to history’s favourite misogynist narratives.
Recommended Drink: Something that seemed like it would solve all your problems but only adds to the chaos.
Catch BLANDY at Assembly George Square Studios, Studio Four 14:40 . Tickets are available through the Edfringe Online Box Office.
Jake Mace
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
