Edinburgh Fringe 2024
Low Down
Bryony tells and enacts a range of stories with props about her lifelong passion of football. Embodied in a heartfelt, sincere and funny hour long show that will appeal to everyone – whether they like football or not.
Review
A clothes rack onstage evocative of a locker room and as time goes by it becomes several places in the life of Bryony. Wearing a football outfit with England t-shirt, shorts, long red socks and sporty shoes Bryony introduces herself to us. She speaks to us assuredly and gives a brief introduction about Fan/Girl from her perspective and lets us know about important points in the show and brings out several props.
A fan of football from a very young age, Bryony speaks with sincerity and honesty, which is very compelling. She tells stories about her childhood and her progression participating in the team sport of football. Her prescience is strong with an assured confidence but no cocky or showing off. Bryony shares how she played football in primary school with a joyful innocence and we are involved when she shows photos projected on a large projection screen. In a video clip someone talks about those early memories shared with Bryony in the 90s. In case anyone is unfamiliar with the 90s Bryony does a humorous whistle-stop tour of popular 90s characters such as David Beckham, the Spice Girls and Cher among others!
Bryony has built a solid rapport with the audience and she asks us for cheers and we happily oblige. Her physical acting skills and personality come out throughout, and especially when telling her stories, monologues and acting out scenes from her youth with dialogue between characters. One character she is friends with is Stephen in fact he’s her bestie, from the earliest age. Bryony asks him questions as a very young child and changes her physicality and voice in subtle ways that is very believable!
Moving on to the under elevens football finals and rituals Bryony is full of hope and plays some favourite childhood games with small props that are fun moments. We hear a poem recitation and she -and we, are full of laughter at her humour. She is proud of becoming the football team captain and using small variations in her face and gestures we understand what she values, even while still I primary school! The quality of her warm and fair attitude and humour is infectious and we can not help laughing along with her as she enacts more memories.
The performance space is used imaginatively with the minimal props, one piece of furniture and some well chosen lighting cues take us to other places, from a very small scene downstage with tight focus lighting to enlarging the space to what feels like a large stadium. The large space gives the voice an echo as well as plenty of volume but at times during fast speech it is harder to catch some of the words.
Her clownish side comes out when she asks her team to choose heads or tails – however, she mischievously throws down several coins! There also are some vey fun surprises but I will not give away spoilers!
The several well drawn theatrical characters have another side to them – even clown types and Bryony is no different. She does have challenges and she becomes very vulnerable and relatable. This is an entertaining and evocative upbeat show that is very well written and performed. Bryony tells and enacts a range of stories with props about her lifelong passion of football. Embodied in a heartfelt, sincere and funny hour long show this show will appeal to everyone – whether they like football or not.
