Edinburgh Review: Unseen at ZOO Playground

Unseen (Zoo Playground, Playground 1) is a one-woman show about what it’s like being a ‘dresser’ on Broadway shows. Kimberley Prentice’s ‘Pam Johnson’ wants to be a dancer and, eschewing the usual waitressing job while she is ‘resting’, takes on a backstage role in the theatre, hoping to be noticed. Of course, she isn’t – well, not often – and in fact, the ‘unseen’ of the title refers to how unnoticed she is by so many of those she works with.

This is not a bitter show – quite the opposite. It highlights the poor behaviour of others through comedy, with Prentice playing all the parts magnificently. There is no ‘poor me’ here; rather, she pokes fun at those who ignore her or do her down and yet gets a serious message through.

The set is the usual Fringe black box and her props are her work belt, a small but bright torch, and three laundry baskets, used to denote many items throughout – not least a bucket to pee in for the stars she is dressing.

In Unseen we really get to feel what it might be like to work backstage – or in any seemingly glamorous situation, which really isn’t – and how much pressure and responsibility a staff member, who tends to be ignored until a diva wants something NOW, is under. Pam is an absolute star and saves the day so often, it’s hard to believe she is rarely thanked, never mind noticed. Not wanting to lose a job she doesn’t really want to have to do is also writ large. Facing humiliation from others and just biting her tongue, when she really wants to speak out, is something we can all understand and sympathise with. Most of us have been there. And then wondered, ultimately, why we bothered.

So Unseen tackles a universal issue of ignoring those who do seemingly menial, but absolutely necessary, jobs. It’s done with such grace – both through the words spoken and also physically – that we almost feel sorry for the idiots who have treated Pam so poorly.