The phrase 'Finnish one-man play' may not sound gripping, but ten seconds into the performance the audience is utterly absorbed in this moving and honest drama.
Written and directed by Bengt Ahlfors, a leading Scandinavian playwright, the play was brought to Edinburgh as part of the 'From Start to Finnish' initiative, a project to develop an international exchange of theatre productions. The comedy 'Continuous Growth' is also showing at the Fringe as part of the project.
Glaswegian actor Alexander West transports us into a small flat in Helsinki, where a lonely old man talks about his life. There is no set save for a table and a chair, but don't be put off by its simplicity; it's this minimalism that makes the play so effective. The intimate and personal monologue directly addresses the audience. In his affable and bumbling manner, West recounts stories from his life with evocative realism; anecdotes about his building's elevator, his childhood, his dog, his love for Grace Kelly, and his quest for a human connection.
The play's confrontation with old age and loneliness is piercing, delicately balancing dark truths with light humour. West's performance is so natural it's heartbreaking. He gazes into the eyes of the audience so they are completely involved in his world. In less capable hands the play could have been dull and depressing, but West commands attention and sympathy, and the audience is transfixed. Beautifully written, bittersweet phrases will float up in the consciousness for days afterwards. Ahlfors' work has been produced throughout Europe, so it's fantastic to see the play adapted for a Scottish actor and audience. There is no better time or place to see it than the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
