What is in your heart that you would really like to say to your partner but don’t? That’s the premise of Rhiannon Ella Tomes’ play Best Wishes, Kind Regards at the Bread and Roses Theatre.
Her (Danielle Horton) and Him (George Wright) are in a relationship that is slowly going south.
They don’t argue, there is love in the relationship (and good chemistry between the performers).
But there is an underlying frustration and tension in the fact that they don’t truly understand each other because of a lack of honesty about how they feel.
We hear that frustration through personified inner voices: Her Wolf (Ellie Gallimore) and His Wolf (Tommy Tancock).
The Wolf dialogue is at times funny but also emotionally raw. It exposes the painful truth of their relationship: the yearning, unmet desire and unfulfilled dreams.
It also exposes the inevitable demise of their partnership, which, with a little more honesty, would likely survive and thrive.
It’s a subtle, yet familiar tragedy.
Dialogue segments are short, sometimes a little too short. The lighting and music interludes feel a little clunky and intrusive.
Occasionally, the interludes break out into movement sequences which, while well done, don’t always add anything to the narrative or overarching tone of the piece. They tend to slow it down.
A physical fight between the Wolves suggests that honesty might not always be the best policy, but they reconcile. Is that a different sort of difficult relationship?
Final thoughts
The idea of verbalised inner monologue works well in exposing the flaws and mistakes in a relationship. It offers a fascinating and moving insight.
However, Best Wishes, Kind Regards is weighed down a little by its structure and what goes on between the dialogue. I’m giving it three and a half stars.
Best Wishes, Kind Regards, Bread and Roses Theatre
Written and directed by Rhiannon Ella Tomes
Cast: Ellie Gallimore, Danielle Horton, Tommy Tancock and George Wright
Running time: 50 minutes
Booking until 21 August.
Recently reviewed
Beige, Riverside Studios and Camden Fringe (27-29 August)
Video review: Krapp’s Last Tape, Calder Bookshop Theatre (Fringe preview), full Edinburgh run Upstairs at Assembly Roxy from 5-31 Aug
The Cherry Orchard, Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, booking until 29 August
Leave a Reply