Review: Let's Talk About Philip

Let’s Talk About Philip, an autobiographical two-hander from Fringe veteran Helen Wood, takes its name from a line uttered by Wood’s father. Her elderly mother has passed away and only the two of them remain, following her brother’s untimely death by suicide at age 27. In the years since his death, the family have never spoken of him – but now, it’s time to break the silence. 

Wood’s quest to uncover the events leading up to Philip’s death form the backbone of this show; letters are uncovered, newspaper clippings dug up from the archives and, in one darkly comic sequence, a seemingly endless battle with bureaucracy ensues when inquest records are requested. But this is no straightforward mystery show: as Wood skilfully illustrates, there is little comfort to be found in official answers for those who lose a loved one to suicide. 

Wood and her co-star Gregor Hunt each put in accomplished performances; Wood, playing herself, moves skilfully between moments of levity, confusion and raw heartbreak while Hunt takes on an impressive array of characters including, perhaps most admirably of all, the eponymous Philip. Each is well-realised and makes a welcome contribution to the story. 

And this is not the relentlessly dark play its subject matter might suggest, or would be justified in. Rather, the texture of life is here: joy and love blend with grief and anger; punchlines exist even in the counsellor’s office. The comedic performance with which Wood has made her name is recognisable throughout and well-used alongside more sombre moments. Fringe audiences will be grateful she has finally decided to talk about Philip.