Having seen WHAT IF THEY ATE THE BABY? earlier this year at Soho Theatre, I already knew I was in for a treat with another Xhloe and Natasha production. The clowning duo and three-time consecutive Fringe First Award-winners are experts at storytelling – not just through dialogue, but through their remarkable physicality.

In A LETTER TO LYNDON B JOHNSON OR GOD: WHOEVER READS THIS FIRST, they take on the roles of two boy scouts, Ace and Grasshopper (we never learn their real names), who eagerly recount their achievements amongst the setting of 1960s America. Lyndon B. Johnson is president and the scouts frequently praise and compare him to God – to them, he is a hero – a figure they must strive to impress, no matter the cost. They show us their badges and accomplishments, darting about the stage with an unsettling eagerness as they march around playing soldiers, pledging allegiance, humming along to Beatles songs and trying to assert themselves as ‘men.’ These scenes are merged with snapshots of the Vietnam War, where Ace and Grasshopper reappear, this time as real soldiers. The stark contrast between the innocence of the scouts and the ruthless reality of war is both compelling and unnerving to watch.

Xhloe and Natasha are completely mesmerising. They travel through the space with an electric energy and precision, often moving in perfect synchronisation. In one particularly memorable moment, we witness a slow-motion sequence set under water, where cascading sound effects and fluid movements create a truly immersive and vivid sensory experience.

As well as the physical brilliance, the show’s narration is sharp and engaging, skilfully interlinking themes of boyhood, manhood, politics and plunging us into the struggle to define masculinity and what it means to feel a need to be tough, obedient and worthy of recognition. Only a tiny point but given the fast pace and the quick transitions between scenes, I occasionally found myself craving more time to absorb the action. That said, this intensity is also part of the show’s power – it feeds into what makes the experience so visceral, bold and striking in delivery. 

Clear your schedule and grab those tickets! This is one everyone’s talking about – A LETTER TO LYNDON B JOHNSON OR GOD: WHOEVER READS THIS FIRST is on until 23^rd August at Upper Theatre at theSpace @ Niddry St. Tickets available here. 

Photo by Morgan McDowell