The Sociable Plover

Returning to the Fringe for the first time since 2005, The Sociable Plover is a twisting tale of intrigue and, strangely, bird-watching. Enjoying its “Fringe-only” run as part of hyperactive director Guy Masterson’s epic Edinburgh festival innings—he’s directing four productions in total—this may be the avid theatre-goer’s last chance to catch this remarkably captivating play on stage.

Starring Masterson as the reclusive ornithologist Roy Tunt, this is in large part an exploration of the distinctively male obsession with collecting things. Tunt is on the cusp of entering into bird-watching legend, as he sets out in his hideaway to record a rare sighting of the sociable plover when in bursts cockney geezer Dave John seeking shelter from the rain. The two pass the time chatting, in an awkward, staccato kind of way, slowly bonding as the hours slip by. But proceedings quickly turn dark, when Tunt receives a radio message from the police, informing him of the presence of a dangerous fugitive in the area; describing a man who looks eerily like John.

This is a superbly performed production, which works brilliantly despite its seemingly rather pedestrian premise. Masterson captures perfectly Tunt’s intense banality, while co-star and author Tim Whitnail is simultaneously a lovable yet slightly sinister cockney rogue. With a cruel twist and a wickedly dark sense of humour, catching this excellent production before its run ends—perhaps for the last time—is highly recommendable.