Bear Necessity

June 1, 2020
Gould-Bourn’s promising if contrived comic debut finds Londoner Danny Malooley grieving his wife, Liz, who died in a car accident more than a year earlier. He is also distressed that his son Will, 11, who is bullied at school, has “selective mutism” and refuses to speak. Adding to his troubles, Danny loses his construction job, which prevents him from paying his angry, vicious landlord several months of back rent. Sad-sack Danny has few skills, so he comes up with a foolhardy plan to work as a dancing panda street performer. While Danny can’t dance, his new “career” has one benefit: Will talks to the panda, unaware he is talking to his dad. Gould-Bourn generates humor from his clever supporting characters, including mouthy pole dancer Krystal (“Why you dressed like a skunk anyway?” she asks, after they meet on a bus). Krystal teaches Danny some dance moves, while his Ukrainian friend Ivan gets some of the best lines. The plot feels a bit flimsy, with things turning out almost too well for Danny, but Gould-Bourn pulls off sweet scenes of Danny becoming a more attentive dad. The story climaxes with a Battle of the Street Performers contest that provides some amusement, but this feel-good story about coping with grief ultimately feels too lightweight. Agent: Joanna Swainson, Hardman & Swainson.