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Merrill Means Well

The Space, Edinburgh

August 2022

Merrill Means Well is a charming stand-up show that has a theatrical sensitivity and follows Merrill’s life experiences under the influence of ADHD. A series of episodes illustrate the humour and anxiety caused by ADHD: although Merrill is capable of laughing at her own foibles, the seriousness of various situations is not hidden by her wit. Starting out as a guide to the condition, before becoming an autobiographical recollection of how her life would have been different had she had an earlier diagnosis, it fits well with the contemporary fashion in comedy for artists to balance the laughter with information, and Merrill’s analysis of the manifestations of ADHD are expertly presented in a concise and coherent interlude.

With a guiding narrative that concludes with a sudden call-back to an earlier tale of her employment as a dog-walker, this monologue relies on Merrill’s warmth: even her precarious adventures are told with a sympathetic smile. Her life illustrates the specific challenges of ADHD, ensuring that the mock presentation that initially provides a structure is all the more instructive. Her brief use of puppetry, however, is effective. She unpacks her puppets from a small box, leaning over them as they are introduced. Each puppet represents one of her medications and while they all have distinctive appearances, she describes their personalities in terms of their effect on her consciousness and behaviour.

Alongside the factual presentation, the puppets are one of the most potent moments of the production. Although they only have a guest appearance, they do locate her experiences within the medical context: their introduction tantalisingly hints at possible developments, further adventures with the tablets taking up a larger

role. They occupy the space of a small sketch, jostled by other anecdotes and contained within their short routine.

Merrill Means Well is a solid comedy, finding its focus throughout the narrative and providing an outline of what has clearly been a life filled with surreal experiences. Confessional, honest and calm, it speaks of an artist not only dealing with their neurodiversity but finding a way to understand it through performance.

Gareth K Vile