Chris Bush’s Hungry premiered last year at the Roundabout, it’s since had a run at Soho Theatre and now it’s back at the Roundabout at Summerhall for this years Fringe.
Hungry uses food as a symbol of class and status. Lori (Eleanor Sutton) is a chef that’s food obsessed and her love language is food. She believes food should be healthy, eco friendly, sustainable and organic. Then there is waiter Bex (Melissa Lowe) who enjoys chicken nuggets and pot noodles. She’s a lover of comfort food and these foods remind her of her upbringing. She’s proudly working class, and the difference between her and Lori is apparent.
Lori and Bex develop a relationship and begin plans to set up a restaurant together. Lori is determined to turn Bex on to the finer things in life, believing Bex simply needs to upgrade her life. Lori is blind to the issues at large, that the food she loves is inaccessible to working class people.
At it’s core, Hungry tenderly displays a queer relationship, it’s heartfelt at times and hilarious and others. Lowe and Sutton’s chemistry is undeniable and their relationship feels authentic. Lowe is the star of the show for me, she has some great comebacks and one-liners and her deadpan expression heightens the comedic value.
Sutton’s Lori speaks a mile a minute, and is awkward and bashful at the beginning of their relationship. Lori digs herself a hole as the play progresses, becoming irredeemable. I felt slightly as though we never really get to know Lori well. Her passion for food is clear, but beyond that Lori feels slightly one-dimensional as we learn next to nothing more about her.
Lowe’s ending monologue is simply stunning. It’s impassioned, heartfelt and important. Lowe’s delivery is intensely powerful, and soon she’s stomping on crisps littered across the floor, which heightens the intensity even more.
Hungry highlights an array of important topics including; gentrification, class issues, grief, cultural appropriation and fatphobia, all whilst using food as the subject matter. Bush’s script is incredibly well written, complex and thought provoking and the delivery from Lowe and Sutton is powerful.
{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}
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