Daniel Moore’s Definitive Guide to Failure-Free Living ★★★★

Daniel Moore is approaching the highest peak of success. Unflinchingly committed to his somewhat-mysterious job for nearly twenty thousand hours, he is about to leave the isolation of his role to share his secrets as to what makes a man an unchallengeable “winner”. Nearing release from his failure-free toil, he can now deliver the finest self-help book (or series of seminars, or possibly a lecture) about male perfection the world has ever seen. Or can he?

Written and performed by Matthew Edgar, Daniel Moore’s Definitive Guide to Failure-Free Living delivers an enthralling and often intense hour of drama that explores society’s seeming obsession with achieving and displaying success. It is also a piece that very much navigates notions of individualism and the omnipresent rise of toxic masculinity.

Cleverly intertwining the present with flashbacks of Daniel Moore’s childhood, it reveals the background – such as youthful trauma and domineering parents – that has led to the character’s delusional belief that his job, isolated in a room for years on end pushing a button on a plinth, has resulted in him being the supreme uber-achiever. With an hour of his contract left, he is convinced that becoming the ultimate Alpha Whale (all becomes apparent during the performance!) is firmly within his grasp, and the world is clamouring to know his secret to success.

Matthew Edgar delivers a keenly-observed and fast-paced play where he skilfully brings to life the character of Moore, peeling back the layers of bravado and hubris to reveal vulnerability and pathos. Not without moments of humour – sometimes the central character is reminiscent Lord Flashheart in Blackadder – it is a piece that really grips an audience and demands it reflects on a journey to manic self-belief, and how easy it might be to be drawn down a similar pathway. Yet beyond that, in a way reminiscent to Waiting for Godot, it skilfully leaves questions hanging. This is certainly a captivating drama that very much deserves Fringe success!