A Slow Air

David Harrower’s newest play, A Slow Air, could have easily been given a different title: A Slow Burn. The play, which features interlocking monologues between two characters, is full of wit and clever observations but takes a rather leisurely pace to get to its denouement.

Morna is a cleaner in Edinburgh. Athol runs a construction company near Glasgow. As both speak about their lives, it becomes clear that they are not only in the middle of a number of personal crises but are also in fact estranged siblings.

Harrower is a gifted writer and can create appealing characters who speak wonderful dialogue, and A Slow Air proves no different. The joy of the play isn’t in watching its rather flimsy plot unfold but in hearing two interesting people speak with emotion while making insightful observations. It does ramble and wouldn’t be hurt by a few cuts, but one could certainly not accuse the play of ever being long-winded or boring.

There’s something rather delicious in watching a play about siblings being played by actual siblings, and here Harrower has scored large thanks to two great performances by Lewis and Kathryn Howden. Each creates a character one genuinely cares about, and they manage to share the stage effectively.

A Slow Air feels like a play that has taken the scenic route, but thankfully the road is a journey well worth taking, even if one questions ‘Are we there yet?’ a few times throughout.