Speed the Movie the Play

Visitors to the Pleasure Garden, Fringe World’s biggest performance hub, may have noticed the unusual presence of a 1977 Mercedes Benz Bus, MTT 171. This bus, borrowed from the Bus Preservation Society, and the area around it, is home to one of Fringe World’s more unusual offerings. Speed, the Movie, the Play.

Playing two shows a night throughout Fringe, Act React’s production attempts to recreate the 1994 movie live, with the audience helping, assigned random lines or, in one case the role of ‘Sandra’, an approximation of the role played by Sandra Bullock in the film. The audience are very much part of the action, and there is a possibility you may get wet or hit by flying limbs. The atmosphere is great fun, with a cast leaning into the campy elements of the film, and the acting broad-stroke coarse acting of the finest variety.

Speed has been to FringeWorld before, but this time the Queensland born show features an all-Western Australian cast. The central character, ‘Keanu’ is played with great smoulder and excessive passion by Ray Teakle, an outstanding performance that anchors the show. Arch nemesis Dennis is played with relish by Johnny Townsager, while Lily Moran delights in pointing out her acting range as Charlie.

Lily Jones breezily improvised as Sam the Bus Captain, a delight to watch while Nigel Goodwin, mixing with the audience was fabulously annoying, Great work also from Lucia Merriweather as ill-fated Helen and Usman Banday as Mac. The cast nearly all pull double duty, running throughout the show to set up stunts outside the bus, which vary from the cliché (but hilarious) to the fabulously clever.

Speed is a must see for anyone who loves quirky and frantic theatre, and of course for lovers of the film. Great fun.

Kimberley Shaw

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