Precious Little Talent

Last year’s Fringe success Eight pushed Ella Hickson into the front rank of young British playwrights, winning numerous awards including a Fringe First. Expectations surrounding her latest work, then, are high; and, fortunately, Hickson delivers again. Precious Little Talent tells the story of an English girl (Emma Hiddleston) who comes to New York to spend Christmas with a father (whom she no longer knows), struggling with early onset dementia, only to fall in love with a local (Simon Ginty).

The show impresses with its sharp, witty exchanges, playing on differences between American and English attitudes to life, which is done full justice by some strong performances. Hickson’s script is packed with dry observations and unexpected jokes, along with some established comic tropes – explaining the differences between the English and the Scottish to an American is guaranteed to cause confusion. Ginty convinces as the endearingly confused, well-meaning Sam, grabbing attention from the start with his physical, high-energy delivery. A minor exhibition of nerves from Hiddleston midway through the performance is a tiny deviation from an otherwise competent performance.

Expertly weaving together themes of self-doubt and personal sorrow at the loss of what makes a person themself, this one-hour round trip to New York combines an exploration of language barriers with clever wordplay. The production is further enhanced by a strong chemistry between the leading roles. Boasting snappy dialogue and glimpses of stand-out performances, Hickson’s second crack at the Fringe fully justifies her burgeoning reputation. There can be few better excuses to spend an August evening celebrating a New York Christmas.