Fringe 25: Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story

Rating: ★★★★

When I went to see Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story at theSpace @ Niddry Street, I had my notebook and pen at the ready for reviewing. I soon realised I wouldn’t be able to write a word. This charming comedy two-hander, written and performed by Dylan Kaeuper and Will Grice, is engaging from the get-go, and examines childhood, friendship and male identity in a way that holds the audience’s full attention for the play’s fifty minutes.

When the play begins, we are transported to the bedroom of young Cody Crocket (Kaeuper), who dreams of leaving his home in 1880s Texas with his best friend Beau McCarthy (Grice) in the hopes that they will become Wild West legends akin to Billy the Kid. The lightening-quick pacing and seamless scene transitions immediately sweep us up in a high-energy coming-of-age story that plays with both the humorous and the tragic. The script is mature and filled with confidently crafted comedy. Brief breaks in the fourth wall lightly critique the conventions of the Western genre while inviting the audience of ‘Redcoats’ to accompany Cody and Beau through the highs and lows of their endearing cowboy adventure.

As for the performance itself, it is a delight to see young actors so comfortable on the stage. While their drawling Texan accents had a few wobbles and there were occasional moments of weaker diction, this in no way disrupted the actors’ flow, with Grice maintaining great sincerity in moments of high emotion and Kaeuper displaying flawlessly relaxed comic timing. The audience is put at ease from the outset, able to trust the pair to deliver an immersive piece. Furthermore, their physical comedy is fantastic, the demanding choreography rehearsed so well as to appear almost effortless - even when they are throwing themselves onto the floor or leaping onto boxes - and their actions are very much in sync. The easy rhythm between the two makes for a convincing portrayal of the characters’ relationship and is a testament to Kaeuper and Grice’s real-life friendship; neither attempts to outshine the other and they are compulsively watchable in tandem.

The production was effectively underscored by its technical elements. The set was very simple, consisting of only a wooden box which remained at centre stage until it was moved to one side in the latter part of the play, signalling a shift towards the story’s climax, and I felt that the bare backdrop encouraged audience members to draw on the power of childlike imagination alongside the characters. This simplicity also allowed the costumes to shine, with Stetsons and cowboy boots solidifying Cody and Beau’s personas. The music was judiciously chosen, although the cuts were sometimes a little jarring, and the lighting was very effective, the use of red light during the opening monologue hinting at the more sinister undercurrent to the play’s frequent funny moments. There was one use of a recorded voiceover, which, while well performed, did not feel strictly necessary, as all other narration and dialogue of secondary characters was performed live by Kaeuper and Grice, which enhanced the production’s metatheatrical charm. The venue itself seemed to tie the play together, the thrust stage and its close proximity to the seating creating an enveloping atmosphere.

Cody and Beau offers a subtle yet self-assured exploration of masculinity, youth and the realities lurking beyond our childhood bedrooms. But beyond its thoughtful messaging, this play is just genuinely enjoyable. Kaeuper and Grice are definitely a pair to watch out for: their Edinburgh Fringe debut really has “True Grit”.