A teacher once told me that the purpose of good theatre is ‘to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable’— and that is precisely what Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society’s production of Helena Fox (writer) and Geraint Owen (director)’s new musical Rust does successfully.
The show follows Evie, a young college student played by Alice Gilderdale who is forced to take a break from University in order to address her struggles with mental illness through a bout in rehab. It begins with a flurry of action that first overwhelms her and then relaxes as she becomes more comfortable with the rehabilitation center, the people there, and herself.
The true draw of this show, however, is the way that the ensemble blends together both in their physically and lyricism in a way that beautifully fills out Evie’s experience and gives her support as well as exposure to the hidden struggles that many people who deal with addiction or mental illness face in a strikingly genuine way. They manage to bring the audience through tense, heart-wrenching moments without leaving them there for too long or letting the rhythm of the musical lag. From the very first scenes in which they are all on together, they create an environment that is instantly familiar even for viewers who have never been to rehab before.
This work is particularly valuable now because the awareness of social stigmas that surround mental illness has grown and resources are becoming increasingly more on the forefront of the common people’s minds. At this point in society it is rare to find someone who doesn’t either struggle with something themselves or have a loved one who does. Rust reminds the audience that resources are out there and that, with a certain level of self-motivation, suffering can be reduced and that they are not alone. With an amazing musical accompaniment that carries that show along and gives it an additional level of depth without becoming preachy, this musical is a must-see at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
