Heart is a Wasteland
Written and
Produced by John Harvey
Direction –
Margaret Harvey
Cast
Aaron Pederson
Ursula Yovich
Anna Liebzeit
Dramaturgy – Mark
Pritchard
Production Design
– Alison Ross
Lighting Design –
Lisa Mibus
AV Design –
Desmond Connellan
Musical Direction
and Sound Design – Anna Liebzeit
Sound Design -
Steve Stelios Adam
Songs by Lydia Fairhall
Stage Manager –
Ainsley Kerr
Malthouse Theatre
The Beckett
29 June – 16 July
2017
John Harvey’s play
Heart is a Wasteland is a testament to
the healing power of falling in love. It
is a delightful romantic comedy grounded in a rich contemporary indigenous
context.
Commencing with
the best welcome to country ever, flying in from the West, it is a very finely
tuned work throughout. This is a confirmation
of the high degree of skill of all who have created and work on it. It is a co-production with Brown Cabs and
made with the support of Footscray Community Arts Centre.
Although an
indigenous story, in a unique setting, it is the universal story of finding
love. In this instance through risking
all in a half intoxicated state in a fairly ordinary bar – not an uncommon
story. Raye (Ursula Yovich) is an
independent Country singer doing a tour through South Australia and Central
Australia to Darwin. She hooks up with
Dan, a miner, who is a beautifully fleshed out with a rich and interesting characterization
by Aaron Pederson.
Ms Yovich has a
delightful stage presence and sings like an angel. She brings sense and gusto to some very meaty
contemporary, politically sensitive chunks of dialogue.
The whole is
staged (Alison Ross) simply on a minimalist set and scenes are changed through
the use of projection on a wonderfully textured screen/back wall. Sound (Steve Stelios Adam) is used to great
effect. Ms Yovich’s sings several poignant
songs by Lydia Fairhall. Guitar accompaniment
is most skillfully provided by Anna Lievzeit.
This most
enjoyable heart-warming theatre is well worth braving the cold to get to.
Suzanne Sandow
(For Stage Whispers)
