Born and raised in Hopeless Junction USA, Gibby Stone is a gentle-hearted teenager who simply wants to be loved and fit in – but fate is cruel.
Geek, which premieres at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018, is a darkly comic musical about love, loss, persecution and redemption from Infinity Rep, a Boston-based company run by young people.
Gibby’s life in a dirt-poor conservative Christian town goes from bad to awful when medical treatment for severe acne has hideous side effects, metamorphosing her into a latter-day Elephant Man.
Matters get nightmarish when Bible thumping Pentecostalists decide she’s in the grip of Satan after their attempts to cure her by prayer just make her head glow. In fact Gibby was simply blushing, after falling for another member of the congregation. Run out of town by the mob and taking refuge in a traveling freak show Gibby finds happiness for a while, but then the wheels of misfortune begin to grind once more.
This is Infinity Rep’s sixth visit to the Fringe, where it has earned a reputation for presenting quality new work by talented young people.
In 2016 it premiered Jessica Avellino’s musical Dark Heartwhich achieved sell out shows, rave reviews (“really impressive” Broadway Baby, “deep and thoughtful” Fringe Guru) and won the Derek Award for Best Overseas Company.
Geekhas been created by composer and lyricist George Griggs and director Paul Andrew Perez andhas echoes of O Brother Where Art Thou?, Wonderand The Greatest Showman. The cast, all aged 17-18, includes Ethan Karas, who is making his first appearance at the Fringe. It also features Olivia Tebsherany whose was singing in Dark Heartwas warmly praised.
Perez said: “Gibby’s situation seems surreal, but George and our young cast capture some chilling truths about the world we live in. Despite being a victim, she is blamed for his misfortune and persecuted for being different.
“Like most people Gibby wants love and acceptance, but she is constantly disappointed. She’s rejected and sold out by her parents, her religion, her friends and even her love.
“Geek is a story of a young woman’s long struggle to find love and redemption against the odds.”
• Venue: C Aquila, The Lawnmarket
• Dates: 1-18 August
• Time: 19:05
• Duration: 55 minutes
• Tickets: £7.50 to £10.50
• Box office: 0845 2601234 https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/geek
