yeehaw with heart
“Cody & Beau: A Wild West Story”, is a two-hander, written and performed by Dylan Kaeuper (playing Cody Crockett) and Will Grice (playing Beau McCarthy). Set in 1889, in Gonzales Texas, we meet these two teenagers who dream of their outlaw heroes, from their lives and their comic books – such as Butch Cassidy, Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill, and above all, the legendary Billy the Kid.
As they stage an elaborate plan to escape their lives to go adventuring, they find themselves in a situation that goes beyond their romanticised planning, as they flirt on the edge of adulthood and its harsh realities. Cody, the more practical of the two, and Beau, the idealistic dreamer, are forced to inspect their lives and surroundings in ways they haven’t before.
The stage is minimally dressed, just with a few crates, and set in the round. In this room, the ceilings are so low that it does provoke an intake of breath when leaping on the crates, and the stetsons only just avoid brushing the ceiling. They make excellent use of the small space and the action capers all over the room, however, the action on the ground can be lost if you’re not in the front row – I’d love to see it on a set that would allow greater visibility to all.
Both performers are excellent, both in the dramatic scenes and in some exquisite physical comedy, where they are completely in sync. Escaping from your room has never been more perilous or entertaining. The accent work is really strong too – there were a couple of wobbles in moments of high drama, but it’s really commendable to sustain such high quality over the course of the hour.
The script is fun and ambitious, with smart remarks and bantering between the boys, leaving us all rooting for them, balanced with sweeter, more reflective moments as they camp under the stars. However, it’s in the final scenes following an altercation that the dramatic performances come to the fore, in a shuddering conclusion that will stay with you for a long time after.
This is a very accomplished production, perfectly poised in comedy and drama. Saddle up, cowboys!
Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story, runs from 01 – 09 Aug at 21:45 at The Space on the Mile, and then from 10 – 16 August at 11:50, at The Space at Niddry Street. Tickets are available from: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cody-and-beau-a-wild-west-story