The Montana Ranch

This eco-scam black comedy is one of those plays that doesn't quite make it, even though it does entertain along the way.

Apparently it's based on considerable undercover research into the growth industry of environmental scams in America, but the result just doesn't feel like that. It has more the air of a mildly Tarantino-esque caper with a case full of money as the object of everyone's need.

Ruben is the guy in the office who accepts donations to keep a fictional bit of Montana green in the face of a mining conglomerate, which is also fictional. Then there's his partner A, a dude who has suddenly been bitten by the environment bug and wants to use the cash to save the trees.

The wild card is Beth, the eco-terrorist with attitude, who just doesn't want anyone with even a slightly capitalist smell to have any of it.

There's a lot of energy, some good black comedy, a fast pace and a nasty little ending. I'm afraid it doesn't amount to a powerful political statement but it does amount to a nicely played, zippy little comedy.

Not a waste of time, certainly, but not quite the hard-hitter it would like to be.