This review is from an earlier run of the show

PALS tells the tale of four hilariously relatable Scottish gals having a bit of a quarter-life crisis. In our modern world it is hard not to compare ourselves to our peers and past school mates. In this show, these girls decide to tackle this crisis head on by attempting to climb a hill in the West of Scotland to achieve something that is easier than planning a wedding or popping out a bairn.

Reality however soon sets in and it is clear that this group have bitten off more than they can chew. Together they are forced to face uncomfortable truths about their friendship, their personalities, health problems, and family life.

It is great to see a diverse range of personalities represented in this show that, while using a fair amount of comedy, also manages to tackle some real hard truths about life. The topics covered will feel familiar to many young women who have navigated life as a 20-something year old. The conversation style between each character feels natural, as if taken from first-hand experiences – we all know a Sadie, Flo, Claire, or Taylor and that relatability captures the magic of being part of a friend group such as theirs.

You can tell this show was made with a lot of love, and it was heart-warming to watch these girls be truly vulnerable, which is something a lot of friends will relate to, and ultimately overcome their struggles together. Communication, understanding, and acceptance of our friends flaws and all are the main takeaways from this performance.

While the third act does slow down the lively pace it does serve a purpose. It allows for the more touching moments to develop; so rare to see on stage from young Scottish characters. The sudden tonal shift makes it a difficult watch as the prior farcical holiday gone wrong is so enjoyable that you just want them to keep on bantering with each other. As a first try at producing a show by Mirren Wilson, PALS is definitely worth watching and sure to steal your heart.

PALS is at Gilded Balloon Patter House – Dram until Mon 26 Aug 2024 (except Tue 13 & 20) at 17:00