EDINBURGH 2018: Review: KATIE AND PIP, Summerhall
On the way into Summerhall's Old Lab a member of staff informs us that there is a dog in this show. I can't speak for anyone else in the queue but that was absolutely what caught my interest in the brochure..
Tin Can People are Rob and Charlotte. They explain at the start of the show that they have written and rehearsed a show, but there is a real dog in it so things might not go exactly to plan. Charlotte explains that they will need to take breaks during the performance so that Katie (Rob's fifteen year old sister) can check her blood sugar.
Katie is Type One diabetic and Pip is her medical assistance dog. Pip has been specially trained by Katie to detect her blood sugar levels through scent.
As I had little knowledge of Type One Diabetes I found this a very interesting and informative piece of theatre. Rob explains the difference between hypos and hypers and talks us through what the 'safe' levels for Katie's blood sugar are.
While I am normally firmly against commenting on a performers appearance during a show, it has to be noted that Pip is an exceptional beauty. Most of the show's humour comes from Pip. She is left with four large buckets of tennis balls and told not to touch. Which naturally, she ignores.
The strongest point in the narrative of the show is when Katie gives first-hand experience of living with diabetes and also how she trained Pip. During some parts of the show, Rob and Charlotte are doing something onstage with a lot of lights and sound but Pip is entirely focused on Katie throughout. Their special bond is really touching to watch.
https://festival18.summerhall.co.uk/event/katie-pip/
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