The Made in Scotland showcase is a Fringe wide initiative that looks to highlight and celebrate excellent work by creators with a Scottish connection. Denton and Me is definitely a performance that should be championed. It is ambitious in style and content and presents an engaging and personal story. The set design for Denton and Me is a curious one. Books, journals and sketch pads are stacked around a small desk. Small compartmentalised boxes are laid out on the stage and tiny objects are sitting inside. This interesting setting lays the foundations for the intimate storytelling that occurs.
Performer Sam Rowe takes on a variety of persona to tell the audience about his time spent in London. We learn how he uncovers the writings of author Denton Welch and the performer draws parallels from the life of the author to his own existence in London. On occasion Rowe seems to express the characters in his story with a bit too much enthusiasm. Initially this is an effective introduction to the various interesting people in the tale. However due to a 75 minute running time, this starts to feel a little bit tiring towards the conclusion. Having said this, the ending of Denton and Me is dramatic and tense. The set design comes alive in ways that excite and amaze the audience and the performance takes on a physical aspect. This adds to the visual spectacle and introduces an element of excitement to the show. This change in tone comes as a surprise and puts the performance back on track in imaginative and evocative ways.
Denton and Me is a touching and dramatic piece of storytelling from an expert performer. The story is brilliantly told, but takes a little bit too long to get going. Thankfully the brilliant set design keeps the audience engaged enough to make the performance an enjoyable one.
Comments