Anna Burnside reviews a new play with ‘neat, satisfying writing’.
Gerry trickles into his dressing room, jaded in a boilersuit and life jacket. Peter flounces in after him, a vision in a comedy half-and-half matelot costume. They are just offstage from the preview of ‘Death of a Sails Man’, their comedic take on Arthur Miller’s 20th century classic.
Among the 30-odd pals of Peter in the audience is Gerry’s son. At 17, Tyler is a wildly successful content creator with 11m followers. He’s pitched up at his almost-estranged father’s show with some life-changing news. Safe to say that Dad does not respond with an outpouring of paternal pride and support.
Matt Anderson’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint debut is a timely piece of work, poking a stick into an issue many Gen X parents have: how to be a good parent when your teenage child overtakes your career, your earnings and your sense of self.
George Drennan is convincing as the self-obsessed old thesp who ignores his son in favour of a show that struggles to attract paying punters. He may have all the serious bits in ‘Death of a Sails Man’, but his pomposity and timing make this role funny, often because it rings true.
Andrew Agnew does a lot of the heavy lifting as Gerry’s lover, co-star and peacemaker. It’s down to clever casting—and wardrobe choices (designed by Heather Grace Currie)—that’s supported by director Edoardo Berto’s staging.
Alexander Tait’s Tyler also shines. He’s everything that his auld Da is not: fresh, enthusiastic and in possession of a manager.
Anderson’s neat, satisfying writing gives each character some kind of redemption, and it has as happy an ending as a tangled parent-child scenario can hope for in a toxic TikTok world.
Death of an Influencer performs at Oran Mor’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint until November 8, 2025. It then transfers to The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen (November 11-15).
Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
RSS