EDINBURGH 2026: Review: THIS IS NOT AMERICA, Pleasance Courtyard
A broad, energetic one-man interrogation thriller undone by a misleading title and ungrounded script.
Framed around a police interrogation, This Is Not America presents four brothers brought in for questioning following a Saturday night death. Written and directed by Philip Stokes, this one-man thriller follows a group of radically different charachters, from the arrogant actor Cassius to the dark outcast Paulie, as a murder investigation slowly unravels.
Solo performer Jack Stokes throws himself into the physical demands of playing multiple roles, using distinct regional accents, sharp shifts in posture, and nervous tics to split the characters apart. Stokes brings continuous energy to the stage, but the direction often leans toward broad, loud choices where quiet restraint would be far more eerie. Meanwhile, a recurring background beep from a heart monitor serves as subtle foreshadowing, adding a persistent layer of tension.
The show's biggest issue, however, is its total disconnect from its own title. This Is Not America promises a sharp critique of Western culture or the myth of the American Dream, but the plot quickly devolves into a story about severe family drama, mental illness, and occult obsession. The character's descent into Satanism feels completely disconnected from any broader societal commentary. It could be set anywhere, leaving the audience to watch a disturbed individual rather than anything deeply reflective.
This Is Not America shows off solid acting talent and a clever premise, but broad direction and a misleading thematic hook keep it from fully landing.
This Is Not America plays at Pleasance Courtyard until 31 August.
Prefer BroadwayWorld in Google Search?
Add us as a preferred source so our stories show up more often in Top Stories and Google’s AI answers — for you.
Get Broadway News on WhatsApp
Receive the latest updates, breaking news, and exclusive coverage from Broadway directly in WhatsApp.
Love Theater in Ireland? Join The Community!
Whether you've got past experience writing about theater or just starting, the BroadwayWorld Community offers a unique opportunity to become a champion for your local arts community, helping raise awareness of local offerings and adding another local voice to the conversation at a time arts coverage is shrinking in the press across the continent. Join us and become a pivotal part of the movement that celebrates and promotes the arts in the digital age.
Learn MoreSign up for all the news on the Fall season, discounts & more...
|
David Nihill: Taking Tangents The Everyman, Cork (10/03-10/03) |
|
Two MR PS In a Podcast: Live - Let That Be a Lesson Ambassador Theatre (2/27-2/27) |
|
To Hell in a Handbag: The Secret Lives of Canon Chasuble & Miss Prismby The Linenhall Arts Centre (9/29-9/29) |
|
Sin & Tonic The Linenhall Arts Centre (9/25-9/25) |
|
|
Give My Head Peace Vicar Street (4/04-4/04) |
|
Heathers the Musical Bord Gais Energy Theatre (11/17-11/21) |
|
|
Murder Trial Tonight V - Death in the Family 3Olympia Theatre (3/08-3/08) |
|
Steve Steinman''s Fuel Injected Magic: 50th Anniversary Concert 3Olympia Theatre (10/20-10/20) |
|
Cana Talks: Optimal Horizons Opium (10/08-10/08) |
|
|
Mná na hÉireann Ambassador Theatre (10/14-10/16) |
Reader Reviews
To post a comment, you must register and login.