Reviews - Melbourne Writers Theatre

Melbourne Writers’ Theatre Presents

St Kilda Stories

Melbourne Writers’ Theatre is presenting three public performances: one in Studio 2 at The National Theatre in St Kilda and two at The Carlton Courthouse - Six Degrees in Melbourne from Tuesday the 3rd and The Melbourne Monologues from Tuesday the 17th of October.

I was lucky enough to catch the St Kilda Stories presented at The National Theatre and this bodes very well for the company’s next two offerings.

St Kilda Stories is a series of five monologues all by different writers and performers and a finale that brings all the actors together.   There is a satisfying variety in the material each of which is directed with finesse by Elizabeth Walley who works very differently with each story to bring out the essence of the writing and show performers at their best.

Twisted World written by Mazz Ryan and performed by Alec Gilbert is an extremely intimate and somewhat uncomfortable monologue of a gay man talking to the biological mother of his children.  It the writing rings of truth, as does the performance, and as such borders on the – too much information - embarrassing.  It feels very real.

Louise Baxter as the writer of Bathing Beauty has managed to hone her work to become the perfect vehicle for performer Isabella Gilbert who works physically and vocally with smooth and perfect timing to present a charming young specter from the Sea Baths on the St Kilda foreshore.  This is the funny/sad story of a synchronized swimmer who couldn’t swim

Charlotte Fox is sublime as the beautiful young army office in Waiting for Kouglhoupf.  This work, set around the time of WWII, is grounded in the nuance of the time.  Ms. Fox subtly and wholly convincingly tells us the story of her character’s burgeoning romance that revolves around the famous Monarch Cake Shop in Acland Street.  Writer Bruce Shearer has penned a delightful simple, very true to the era, story.

Seagulls Dream of Red-hot Chips on Oceans of Dreamy Ice Cream is an interesting monologue also written by Bruce Shearer and performed by Kyle Roberts.  Writing and performance contrasts greatly from his previously presented work.  Roberts almost morphs into one of the very loud and strident seagulls he is describing with a kind of reverence.

Clare Mendes’s work Big Dipper refers to the ride no longer at Luna Park.  Performed by Clare Larman it chronicles some of the fun youthful times of its protagonist history in relation to the history of ‘vanished’ St Kilda.  And who would have thought there were so many fires in a single suburb.  This work reveres landmarks both present and missing.

The torch song finale sung by Alec Gilbert with dancing support from the rest of the cast is a lovely way to tie the whole evening up.

The Melbourne Monologues

La Mama Courthouse

17 – 22 October

Melbourne Writers’ Theatre continues to impress with another engaging series of monologues The Melbourne Monologues. Like The St Kilda Stories it is also a series of six short stories that are directed with care and sensitivity by Elizabeth Walley.

Firstly through ‘To Understand’ we are taken into the confidence of a person who has been very affected by a death and the experience of watching blood seep out of a human body.    This initially ambiguous and yet fascinating work is written by Katie Lee and performed by a very convincing Ruth Katerelos.  I imagine, as this work grows through being performed, it will gain in nuance through the use of pauses and variations in tempo.  Never the less it is a thoroughly absorbing piece.

Carmen Saarelant has written a great little parody called ‘No Feet’ a funny and disturbing work that touches on subjects such as phantom limbs and gender reassignment as well as delusional thinking.  Alec Gilbert performs this piece with appropriate commitment and irony.

Most affecting and funny is Adele Shelly’s piece ‘Girl’s School Delights’ in which four teenage schoolgirls discuss each other’s talents and converse with a teacher who comes off very badly.   Cosmina Gilbert plays all four girls – A, B, C and D through whom many of the considerable irritations endured by today’s secondary school teachers are conveyed.  The writing is astute and sharp and Ms. Gilbert’s performance most impressive.

The very prolific Bruce Shearer has written a piece called ‘Garry’ in which Jack McGorlick expresses his contempt for Tuesday.  Though I am assuming the day of the week changes in accordance to the actual day of the week at the time of performance.  This work is unexpected and both ridiculous and funny, and at times, very telling.

‘The Bystander is the Gatekeeper’ by Anita Saunders, performed by a charming and personable Karissa Taylor, could do with a bit of dramaturgy.  It takes extra concentration to interpret and ultimately does not make complete sense.  This leaves me wondering if the writer, performer and director are all completely in sync or if the writing is not yet fully resolved.

Finally Celia Handscombe brings to life a marvelously moving piece of writing by the adroit Louise Baxter called ‘Fairy Dust’.  This is a rich and complex work of the lived experience of the type of grief that is caused by the injustice of a premature death.  It is very telling

A fresh and vital evening – well worth attending.

Suzanne Sandow

(Both reviews were written for Stage Whispers)M