Milly Thomas might just be the next Phoebe Waller-Bridge, which is intended as a compliment to both ladies. She writes in the same sassy, sexy style about life for young women today and shows a similar assurance on stage.
Dust is a ghost story for the millennium generation. It opens as ethereal Alice looks down at the corpse that she has only just deserted.
Alice is a lively lass, ready with a quip or opinion for every occasion. In an hour, she takes us on a madcap journey through a life that will seem familiar to many of her peers in the audience, while shocking their parents. In short, she and her pals were seriously into sex, drugs and quite possibly rock 'n' roll.
As the play develops, Alice begins to share her experience of depression, which left the bright, pretty young woman unemployed and practically bedridden. This is not fully explored but makes an odd contrast with the good times but adds to the sense of loss. We get to meet her grieving parents, uncaring brother, excessive aunt, ex and best friend/flatmate Ellie all painted in colourful, entertaining detail.
Dust may not yet be perfect and could benefit from a deeper exploration of Alice’s low points but marks Milly Thomas out as one to watch. That might not be easy as the Edinburgh run is bound to sell out very quickly.