Fringe Review: MOLT is a playful exploration of the things we lose
It is with a hint of shame I admit that prior to MOLT: The Museum of Lost Things, I had not attended a Fringe Festival show. This is not for lack of intention though - many times I have ventured to the Pleasure Garden with the goal of seeing something wonderful and unique, only to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options and my inability to make a decision (maybe I should have consulted some reviews hey). The end result is a lost opportunity to expand my cultural horizons. Fitting then, that my first foray into Fringe be Rian Howlett’s journey into the Museum of Lost Things, an interdimensional black hole where all things lost go to live out their days.
Howlett, acting as curator of the museum, takes the audience on a one-man tour of all the things we’ve lost over our lives, starting at the obvious, likes keys and wallets, before delving a little deeper into the things we lose that aren’t as easy to find again. Ironically, it was easy to get a little lost in the occasionally wordy dialogue, but the writing remained tight enough that you were never adrift for too long before being drawn back in by another relatable instance of lost-ness. As things progress, the story develops into an examination of the curator himself, rather than just a list of things we lose, helping to keep the audience engaged and give things a little more depth, all while remaining playful and good-humored.
While the intimacy of Fringe theatre can be intimidating, Howlett’s charisma puts the audience at ease almost immediately, making it easy to simply relax and enjoy where you’re being taken to over the next 45 minutes. Walking out, it was this enjoyment that stood out the most. Although never reaching any intense emotional peaks, MOLT doesn’t need to, its light-hearted take on people and loss is more than enough to make the price of admission worthwhile.
