Ramona Tells Jim, Bush Theatre review ★★★★★

Bush Theatre Emerging Writers' Group member and actor turned writer Sophie Wu (Kick Ass, Wild Child) explore the gravity of young love and the awkwardness of adolescence this darkly comic three-man play. Ramona Tells Jim takes the classic coming-of-age format and adds a strand of intrigue.

Ramona is the kind of teenager who boasts about the anti-pilling properties of her fleece. It's classic misfit territory, brought to life with comic flair and charm by Ruby Bentall. She's ostracized by her peers and spends most of their school trip to the Scottish Highlands alone trying not to cry. Then she meets Jim (Joe Bannister ), a local lad with a with an uncool interest in crustaceans. United by the quirks that isolate them, they dance to Enya, kiss with clumsy enthusiasm and take each other's virginity on the outskirts of a caravan park.

It's all gawky comedy until insecurities trigger an act of violence that comes to haunt them both.

15 years later and Jim is an unsatisfied thirty-something with a job in the fish factory and an overbearing, emotionally unstable 19-year-old girlfriend called Pocahantas (Amy Lennox). Then Ramona returns, unexpected, to confess something to Jim.

As the 80 minute drama switches between teenage and adult characters, the core element of the story feels tender and there's enough intrigue to entertain. The characters are a little overwritten - often voicing nuggets of self-analysis that would be better left to the audience to ponder. The scenes set in the caravan park, where two nerdy teens negotiate the thrill and disappointment of finally finding a connection - are by far the strongest. By comparison the present day feels a little laced with cliche, especially stereotype-soaked portrayal of Pocahantas as the 'psycho-girlfriend' 'damaged goods' and 'needy diva'.

At its best Ramona Tells Jim is a warm, well-observed portrait of being young and being different. Playwright Sophie Wu has an ear for naturally funny dialogue and makes the whole kooky lovestory trope feel fresh. We look forward to seeing what she does next.