This hilariously tender tale follows Shy Girl’s ambitious attempt to open up (emotionally, spiritually,… physically) to expand her social life beyond the feeble realm of her imaginary friends and find real human connection. After sell-out runs in New York, this beloved show will have Edinburgh audiences laugh, cry and say bye bye to shy.
Wyld Woman, written and performed by Isabel Renner and directed by Cameron King, is the story of Shy Girl as she eagerly prepares for the arrival of her first friends ever. And not just any friends. We’re talking legends – who are due to arrive at her apartment in just under an hour. All that’s left to do is remedy the simple fact that she does not know how to talk to other people. Thus begins a practice conversation, complete with index card prompts written by her (child) therapist.
Shy Girl starts off intent on proving her coolness. But with each personal detail she divulges, the intense awkwardness of her very existence becomes clearer and clearer to both her and the audience. As she unravels, characters from her life begin to spill out of her, each one more outrageous than the last. Her hot roommate, her evil boss, and even her German gynaecologist seem to have strong opinions on Shy Girl’s timid body and soul. At last, when she believes true love has come knocking, further embarrassment ensues as sexual stage fright and social inexperience collide.
Writer Isabel Renner comments, I began writing this show mostly to make sense of the humiliation caused by my then recent escapades with a man who I could not force to be my soul mate (hard though I tried). My best revenge tactic was to turn him into a character as unappealing as humanly possible and thus, the infinitely undesirable Pino was born. (I am known for my maturity). But more than that, I wanted to own the intense social anxiety I’ve had my whole life. It’s always felt so embarrassing to me, so entirely the reason for my un-coolness. Writing this, making it as funny and extreme as I can, has been a way to say, ‘I know exactly how I come across. I know exactly how awkward I can be. And I have the last laugh’.
