Ronnie is a dog walker. Not a 'proper' one though. He's an amateur, taken it on in lockdown as a favour to the neighbours. Ronnie is looked down on by the real pros. So he avoids them as best he can and gets on with enjoying the park, and the dogs, and that old feeing of being useful. But then the day comes when the dogs get the better of him, rush off into the distance, and Ronnie has to set off in pursuit in a panic. Which takes him out of the moment, where he so much wants to be, and into contemplation of past and future, and the fears that they hold.
A mesmerising solo performance from Jonathan Watson, which switches to and fro from comedy and pathos, immediacy of people and places, and deep emotions. The humanities and inhumanities (and strong echoes of 'Partygate') of our recent pandemic times are there on display, with both expected and unexpected tragedies, and a strong sense of empathy for the fragility of our mental health.
Watson makes it all feel like a cosy, intimate chat, as if you've met him down the pub and asked him to tell you his story. It's all so natural, with a script from Douglas Maxwell which leaves the actor plenty room for a wide variety of emotional deliveries, and a clever set that takes into the outdoors and along wandering pathways.
The experiences and difficulties of the past couple of years are going to be rich artistic territory for some time to come, and Man's Best Friend is a shining example of the genre. Highly recommended.
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