A Horse Story is two plays about mismatched men and women who must break through layers of miscommunication to find mutual ground and ways of supporting each other.
In Spurs we meet Johnny Buffalo, a cowboy at death's door following a botched bank robbery that left him horseless,without the use of his legs and with a terrible shoulder wound. He shows great spirit as he drags himself across the desert in search of escape.
While trying to hide from the townsfolk, he meets a crazy injun and tries to enlist her help. Despite the language barrier they have a fleeting connection.
It's a story that's been told many times on film and in novels and this 50-minute piece brings nothing new to the genre, although Dan Musgrove and Natalie Medlock are very good actors.
Directed by Laurel Devenie, it trots along at a good pace. There is also a nice balance of humour and pathos and Musgrove and Medlock bring a winning physicality to their performances.
Unfortunately, there aren't many redeeming features in Blinkers, which throws misfits Amy and Monty into an unlikely love story. Amy is a moronic rock fantasist with questionable personal hygiene while fastidious Monty is more at home with his horsey hobbies. Both characters are wilfully eccentric and the story brings to mind the movie Eagle vs Shark but without any of the charm or originality.
Directed by Sophie Roberts, it drags in comparison to the first play and the unexpected ending requires a real leap of faith from the audience. Frankly, I wish I'd left at half time. as the first show was enjoyable. Both plays were written and devised by Musgrove and Medlock, who are partners off the stage. I think they need to dig a little deeper to move beyond undergraduate insights into humans' inability to communicate.
The show will be on at the Basement Theatre in Lower Greys Ave until Friday, when the pair pack up for the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Spurs should travel well but they should put Blinkers out to pasture.
