Mortal Sin at Wee Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot Review
Mortal Sin at Gilded Balloon’s Teviot tells the story of two best friends, Colm and Peggy, in a small Irish seaside village. Their lives and friendship are influenced by the Catholic guilt that almost plagues all aspects of the village. Driving the friends to the point of protesting a day of mourning for JFK’s funeral because his ancestors are Irish and they got a day off school when the Pope died.
A two handed dramedy with heart and sentiment, the piece paces itself well, always knowing when to change perspective and to characters outside of Colm and Peggy. The friendship between the two is one of the strongest elements in the show, never feeling forced and implemented well without overtaking the show in its entirety. From the fringe website it did seem like there would be a bit more time spent on the JFK plot line, instead of it feeling like it was sprinkled in only as a way to get from point A in the script to point B that works within the sixties setting.
The show delves into topics that were very taboo during the time frame, but it felt like a little more of the show focused on Colm rather than Peggy, making it a little harder to connect with her character on an emotional level until later in the piece. Nonetheless, Benjamin Reilly and Isolde Fenton shine brightly as the best friends, bringing a nuanced and joyful nature to the teenagers.
On the surface, Mortal Sin portrays itself as a slice of life show before moulding into the harsh reality of what it meant to grow up different from the status quo in a place overrun with religion and its rules. However, I would have liked to have seen certain plot lines explored more, that would have put it a foot in front of all the other friendship shows at this year’s fringe.
★★★
Written by Kerry for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.
