Think of the greatest fantasy adventure movies you’ve ever seen. Lord Of The Rings. Pirates of the Carribean. Shrek films one to four. Think about what makes them good films. Compelling plot. Characters you can root for from the start. Characters that have redemption arcs. Astounding attention to detail. Action-packed fight scenes. Now, imagine the hollywood sets are stripped, the budgets are cut and you are left with Lewis Doherty, a couple of red lights, and a solitary chair to match these films in intensity, character, and enjoyment in Boar. And he nails it.
From the very start of the hour-long foray into epic ridiculousness, you know that this is going to be one of the sweatiest shows you’ve ever seen, from how totally dedicated Doherty is to this piece, using every fibre in his body and every note in his voice to make this one-man fantasy epic, seem like a Hollywood, cast of 200, fantasy epic.
Boar is absurdly easy to follow. You would think a man acting out every action, every character, every scene in which there could be up to about six characters all talking at one, would be one of the messiest things you could ever see. I was so happy to be proved wrong. I followed every plot point and every character, it’s as if I was just watching a good film.
Doherty is a powerhouse. His stamina is unmatched by anything I’ve seen, his appreciation for the artform is so apparent in his writing, and his comedy is so intelligent that the piece maintains the same level of energy throughout most of the piece, however when a mishap with Doherty’s mic occurs near the end, his energy is hindered for a few minutes, but he quickly makes his recovery and delivers an ending of that same energy and passion.
It’s hard to review a show like Boar, because there is almost nothing like it to compare it to. Which is a brilliant achievement in itself in such a wide programme as the Fringe. All I can say is Boar is a damn near perfect version of what it is, and I suggest that you go and see it, because anyone in their right mind can see big things ahead for this young warrior.
Main Image Credit: Pamela Raith
