A beautiful snapshot of life with the potential to shine
We spend a third of our lives in bed…. If only beds could talk! Is the tagline for this 60 minute musical showing at Gilded Balloon Teviot this August. The concept is simple and quiet, no showy big numbers, just human connection and real stories.
Writers Tim Anfilogoff and Alan Whittaker’s show is set literally bedside – the start of the journey when instead of a honeymoon they buy a new bed. The journey takes us on affairs, therapy, babies and death and we experience the intimacy and sadness of that as well.
What I loved about the choice to have just the bed and conversations around it was the simplicity and intensity this could bring – I also wondered how they would keep within this concept and show a full life. The scenes where they aren’t in the bedroom for me are the most out of place, at conflict with the theme and used only to introduce variety rather than utilise what would be a brilliant framing device.
The songs are in general pleasant and have an easy melody however often end abruptly leaving the audience questioning applause or whether the tension should hold. Occasionally the pitching choices are a little obscure which is difficult on the actors and you can hear them struggle to place it. It is also in the the lyrics that there are jarring sentences, intended to sound like speech but often reading as awkward.
The actors Madeleine MacMahon and Drew Elston interact well and both have an easy watchable quality. Particularly MacMahon shines in the more emotional moments with a subtle and moving performance.
Overall a lovely 60 minutes of performance with lyrics and structure which needs a bit of work.
Running at Gilded Ballon Teviot, 4-13, 15-20, 22-28 at 14:20pm.