Durham Fringe Festival 2024
BED – A one man show
Ben Donaghy
Genre: Solo Performance, Solo Show, Stand-Up
Venue: City Theatre Durham
Festival: Durham Fringe Festival
Low Down
Successfully blending theatre and stand-up comedy, award-winning solo performer Ben Donaghey brings us a show set in a bed. “BED follows the central character as they pack their life possessions into one box.. This slowly starts to unravel to reveal a web of lies spun across several years, all pointing to a mental health crisis left unnoticed. All set on a bed in the centre of the stage, the audience is transported to scenes all over the world, from a hotel in Paris, a sleeper train, a rough night in a tent and raunchy encounters in Amsterdam.”
Review
The stage is set with a large double bed, prominently placed, and a microphone poised for stand-up comedy and some well hosted audience interaction. This simple yet effective setup is the home harbour from which some episodes from the life of our protagonist unravel. As the lights go up, a young man in the bed wakes up, and thus begins a solo show that is both endearing and sincere, blending stand-up comedy with poignant theatre.
The charm of this performance lies in its clever conception, merging the immediacy of stand-up with the introspection of solo theatre. The storyteller, with poise and charisma, navigates through memories that are not all they seem, presenting scrapbook snippets of life imagined rather than actually lived. The blend of solo theatre and raconteur stand-up works well, offering a seamless flow between improv comedy at the mic and set piece vignettes in the theatre scenes.
As the performance unfolds, the audience is taken on a journey, acting out incidents from the storyteller’s fantasised relationship. The hotel bed becomes a vehicle, transporting us from Brussels to Prague, even as far as Japan. The portrayal of lone traveling captures both the excitement and the loneliness it entails, with some episodes veering into dreamlike territory and there’s a dance scene that brought me to tears.
This interplay of memories and fantasies creates a hopeful yet introspective narrative.The physical comedy adds to the proceedings, with the bed playing its part effectively as a focal point on stage. The audience connects deeply, leaning in for this energetic and heartwarming performance. When the game show’s segment arrives, the audience’s delight is palpable, showcasing the performer’s ability to engage and entertain.
The piece coulde further develop. While the storytelling is authentic and the banter skillful, the script and pacing could benefit from tighter direction and dramaturgy. Certain sections feel slightly rough around the edges, and further development could enhance the overall quality of the stagecraft. This criticism, though, is minor in the grand scheme of what is otherwise a promising and intimate piece of solo theatre.
Thematically, the show is rooted in fantasied memory and the uncertainty residing in the host’s troubled inner life. Some memory visions are painful, reflecting the universal experience of growing into the awakening of one’s identity and purpose from home-based childhood to leaving the nest and the sole journey of one on the edges of the social group. This duality creates a rich tapestry of emotions, making the performance deeply personal and relatable.
In conclusion, this solo show is a cleverly conceived piece that combines comedy and theatre with finesse. Its authenticity and charm are undeniable, offering a well-paced, skilled and inventive performance. With a bit of fine-tuning, particularly in script and pacing, this show will achieve even greater heights. Before and after you see this show, listening to “There is a Bed” sung by Mary Coughlan is strongly recommended! This is a show that stands out as a testament to the power of solo storytelling that has no fear of successfully drawing on other genres.
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