Review - Some Girls

Some Girl(s)

By Neil LaBute

Directed by Neil Coulson

Production Manager            

& Set Construction – Tony Rains

Cast:

Guy                 Nicholaus Linton

Sam                 Kimberley May Moore

Tyler               Ainsley Winter

Lindsay           Felicity Haebich Legg

Reggie             Molly Harris  

Bobbi              Rosemary Cokin

Boilerhouse Theatre Sunbury

Season June 2016

This is a lovely well-rounded production of Some Girls(s) - a play that is quite some social document of middle class dating in ‘The States’ in the 1980s.  It premiered in London in 2005.

Photo by Kimberley Moore Media

The story itself is a young mans'.   Guy, played most convincingly by Nicholaus Linton, is going to get married so he organizes to meet with a number of his old girlfriends in generic hotel rooms.  Ostensively it would seem he is doing this for closure and to better understand himself through what didn’t work in past relationships.  However, every now and then, there is a sense he might like to ‘make the most’ of his last weeks of freedom.

This work constitutes putting what makes a successful relationship under the microscope through examining miscommunications.  There is a compelling attitude of selfishness and pursuit of self-interest in Guy as the main protagonist.  Interestingly writer Neil LaBute has been labeled a misanthrope and misogynist.   Although I don’t think that is particularly relevant in relation to this text - as portraying sexism in Theatre should not be confused with endorsing it.  In this instance attitudes are being examined.  The female characters are afforded the autonomy of being fleshed out on stage in such a way that they are able to speak for themselves an at times educate Guy.

The overall theme is universal and the tensions in searching for a partner, one imagines, are pretty much the same anywhere.  Put simply it is a fascinating interrogation of young adult relationships and most particularly how we deal, or have dealt, with rejection in our romantic lives.  As such it touches on one's personal experiences and is therefore is very accessible and easy to relate to.

Most pertinently Some Girl(s) is a play for the twenty to thirty some thing age group.  But there is also heaps to find in it for those of us who are now removed from the tussles of trying to establish an intimate romantic relationship.  No matter what angle you are watching it from it is a rewarding night of theatre fascinating, enlightening and fun.

Such a treat to attend an intelligently managed streamlined amateur production that doesn’t hide behind unnecessary props or bits of business.  Quite obviously Director and Cast have the confidence and courage to present the work with out superfluous and befuddling embellishment.

Photo by Kimberley Moore Media 

The set is a very basic hotel room and as such is a conventional and stunningly plain canvas to place actors on.

At twenty-four actor Nicholaus Linton is amazingly is able to span the gamut of the role and make sense of the complexity of the understandings of Guy a man a number of years his senior.

All actors wear their characters like a second skin with stand out work by Kimberly May Moore as Sam, the first relationship examined.  Ainsley Winter plays a very relaxed and seductive Tyler.  Felicity Haebich Legg exudes Lindsey’s imperious confidence in a role that is a great contrast to her character of a Muse in Mt Players recent production of Xanadu.

However the costuming of this academic character Lindsay stands out as not quite right.  This is a very small issue but through the eyes of a person who lived through the era Lindsay looks more like an Airhostess than a Professor of, the progressive for the era, Gender Studies.

Molly Harris delightfully embodies the wacky slightly insecure off beat Reggie. And Rosemary Cokin makes a great fist of the self-reliant Bobbi to cap off the evening.

Director Neil Coulson quite obviously has a very clear insight into the material.  It would appear that he has taken his cast on a well-managed discerning journey to achieve really solid and convincing outcomes.  All actors seem at home on stage and comfortable in the skin of their characters.  One feels the Director has truly appreciated their work in rehearsal, and they are confident in presenting something delightfully insightful to their audience. 

Photo by Kimberley Moore Media

The work is very even and clearly honors what the writer is trying to convey.

As my first visit to Boilerhouse – I was especially impressed.

Suzanne Sandow

Review - Egg

Egg

By Angela Betzien

Presented by MTC Family

Directed by Leticia Caceres

Cast

Horse – Genevieve Morris

Photo - Jeff Busby

Clyde – Jim Russell

Puppeteer - Michelle Robin Anderson

Puppetry Director - Sam Routledge

Set and Costume Designer – Owen Phillips

Lighting Designer – Andy Turner

Composer and sound Designers – THE SWEATS

Choreographer – Andrew Hallsworth

29 June to 19 July 2016

Southbank Theatre, The Lawler

Not too light and fluffy but featuring a very charming and appealing puppet Ovo, expertly manipulated by puppeteer Michelle Robin Anderson, Egg is a mesmerizing holiday offering with strong and rich production values - but ambiguous themes. 

This Children’s show for 8 to 12 year olds feels hazy, bemusing, confusing and comfortable all at once.  However the story requires some thought to piece together and might be beyond younger children who will, never the less, be swept along with the action and songs.  Interestingly it is riddled with some unusually strong innuendo for adults.

Egg is a kind of mysterious road journey through a dimly remembered past.  The two main characters Clyde played by Jim Russell and Horse by Genevieve Morris are reminiscent of Vladimir and Estragon from Waiting for Godot.  This duo has a funny relationship that could be likened to a couple of slightly grumpy grandparents.  They have behavioral patterns they repeat tirelessly, but are not tremendously sure of anything else due to their constant use of ‘Forget-me-yes’ spray. 

Photo - Jeff Busby

What Theatre in Education writer Angela Betzien writer is trying to discuss with this work is unclear or perhaps understated and intentionally made vague and more palatable through this particular production.   

Under Leticia Caceres Direction all Creatives; Design (Owen Phillips), Light (Andy Turner) and Sound (THE SWEATS) enhance an over all muted dusty bush/outback feel.  In this dusky established background the beautiful ‘caterpillar like’ puppet character takes precedence as a bright wide-eyed engaging and fragile character that appeals to the nurturer in us all.

The opening night audience was not ideal for a kid’s show, as is often the case; it was heavily papered with industry grown-ups and contained barely more than a smattering of children.  This puts considerable pressure on the performers as they are geared up to engage with children and find themselves facing a grown up audience that seldom responds spontaneously or with the same sense of wonder as kids.

Egg offers children - engaging entertainment and something to think about - these holidays.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Review - The Events

The Events

By David Greig

A co production with Belvoir and State SA Theatre Company

Direction – Claire Watson

Cast Includes Johnny Carr and Catherine McClements

Set and Lighting Designer - Geoff Cobham

Musical Director – Luke Byrne

Composer – John Browne

Malthouse Theatre

21 June – 10 July 2016

Johnny Carr and Catherine McClements - Photo Pia Johnson

The Events, is a fictional story set in a small Scottish town, written by Scottish Playwright David Greig in response to the 2011 mass shoot in Norway.  This intelligent, skillful work is a testament to Greig’s capacity for deeply interrogating difficult and profound subject matter.  

Greig’s protagonist Claire a Vicar has the humanity, courage and deep spiritual need to confront and understand what has happening to her ‘flock’ after a murderous attack on her choir.

As Claire Catherine McClements a deeply perceptive, intuitive and seasoned performer is able to shine light on the many complex responses from being intimately affected by the profound and irrevocable experience of a massacre.

McClements is a wonderfully available and accessible actor.  Her performance, conveying the thought processes and roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows, is insightful and unaffectedly nuanced as she processes coming to terms with the unholy act of mass murder and its consequences.  She intricately handles the exposition of the voice of reason in a totally unreasonable and devastating situation. 

The direction by Claire Watson is measured and clear.  Ms. Watson, guided by the writing, does not attempt to tug on heartstrings or take the moral high ground.  She allows the various thoughts, arguments and at times overwhelming anxieties to be expressed and witnessed.   As observers we take the journey with Claire.

Catherine McClements and Johnny Carr
by Pia Johnson

The audience is included most specifically at the start when it would seem that a latecomer is being called in and involved.   As with the theme of community and a Minister and her flock this man, the offender a mass murderer, comes from amongst us.  Actor Johnny Carr whose work is satisfying and appropriate within the whole plays him, along with a number of other characters.

This is cerebral Theatre, which although moving, does not illicit visceral engagement.  As audience one feels removed and safe to engage only as far as able.  This is partly due to the staging, which would need to be more adventurous and destabilizing to really let the viewer into the potent distress.

Simple set changes are made to the community hall to designate various environments.  This reminds me of classroom performances. 

The Choir sang so movingly on opening night as doubtless all the chosen choirs, a different on each evening, will sing.  Members of the choir also double as players in the story and questing members of the public.  The story is about a choir and the choir frames the whole. 

It takes a foolhardy spirit and a load of courage to work on Theatre about contemporary disasters.  The difficult question is, how long, as ‘breathing time’ is needed between actual events and their dramatic reinvention and presentation to result in ‘good theatre’?  How long is a piece of string?  Maybe?

If you were fearful of seeing this one because it might be too distressing don’t be.  It radiates a massive sense of humanity and poignancy and one feels kind of removed – maybe even uplifted due to the singing and sense of community.  And Catherine McClement’s performance is not to be missed!

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)