Low Down

A son comes to find his dying father in a Montana Motel, which is itself on its last legs. Family connections are revealed and old wounds are re-opened.

Review

It is unusual and refreshing to see a play in the Edinburgh Fringe with more than just two students making theatre with party poppers and cardboard boxes. Rich Hall’s new comedy, Best Western goes way beyond this, with a proper set and nine credited actors. Set in a dismal motel in Montana, the play has echoes of Sam Shepard, as it explores the complex relationships between the estranged Graves family, and their reasons for being at the motel. 

The play is incredibly well acted by all involved, with Maria Golledge deserving a special mention for her portrayal of Wanda, the nervous girlfriend whose slutty appearance belies a sensitive artistic soul. With few of the cast actually being American, the accents are impeccable and the characterisations manage to go way beyond the stereotypes of small town America they could so easily have fallen into. 

Billed in the Fringe Guide under ‘Comedy’, this seems an odd choice for a play, that while containing elements of humour, has at its heart a serious theme and serious family relationships. The only explanation is that Rich Hall’s reputation as a stand-up means that perhaps one of his plays will get more notice in the Comedy section. That said, there are wonderfully funny moments in the play, most notably by Kyle Fabel as the reprehensible Ed Kehoe, who takes great pleasure in razing homes to the ground to make way for new roads. 

My only criticism of the play is that it seems a little unfinished - some of the final scenes need fleshing out a bit, and the climaxes built upon. The ending seems a little rushed and slightly confused, with the surreal element of a English cowgirl paramedic coming a little to late in an otherwise naturalistic play to fully make sense.

However, all in all it is one of the finer pieces of theatre I have seen on the Fringe, with a well-written script, and a professional and talented cast - well worth going to see.

Reviewed by AB 10/08/07

Website : http://www.offthekerb.co.uk/