Review - The Dumb Waiter

What’s On?  Production company Presents -

The Dumb Waiter

by 

Harold Pinter

Directed by Paul Watson

Lighting Design – Jason Bovaird

Set Michael Watson

Cast 

Ben – John Wood

Gus – Don Bridges

Chapel off Chapel

5 – 9 September 2018

This is an excellent opportunity to catch two consummate actors perform in a skillfully produced, short, clever theatre classic by Harold Pinter. 

On a washed out greyish set, by Michael Watson, of a sort of nasty basement hotel room - Ben (John Wood) and Gus (Don Bridges) interact over discussions about the mysterious endeavor they have been contracted to perform, and the more mundane difficulties of making a cup of tea.  Eventually they find themselves literally interacting with a dumb waiter.

Absurd measured and menacing - The Dumb Waiteris an intriguing riveting mystery that makes shocking sense in the last few seconds on stage.

Gus the more lively and perhaps naïve character moves around a lot and appears to be somewhat irritating to the sedate calm and confident Ben whom John Wood embodies with cool control.  As always Wood exudes charisma and is enigmatic and engaging to watch. 

Director Paul Watson delivers a clean clear production with both actors comfortable in their character’s skins.  The environment and atmosphere, he has had created, serves them well.

Sound is, appropriately, pretty much limited to the ticking of a clock.  The lighting is strong and imbues some effective dramatic changes.  However I, personally, would like to see lighting and the ticking sound subtly manipulated, as the piece progresses, to create a more destabilizing ambience.   

The Dumb Waiteris a great little work - and if you are thinking of catching its last couple of performances – do!  Perhaps it is being geared up to tour Regionally – if so - keep a look out for it.

Finally, audiences are given the chance to support the Actors Benevolent Fund a very important and worthwhile charity.  Take some cash with you.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)

Blasted - Review

Blasted

by Sarah Kane

Direction – Anne-Louise Sarks

Cast:  Fayssal Bazzi, Eloise Mignon and David Woods

Set and Costume – Marg Horwell

Lighting Design – Paul Jackson

Sound Design and Composition – Jethro Woodward

Design Associate – Romanie Harper

Cinematography – Sky Davies

Gaffer – Jared Fish

Colourist – Nicholas Hower

Stage Manager – Lyndie Li Wan Po

Malthouse Theatre – The Merlyn

24 August to 16 September

If you love or hate or are completely overwhelmed by it there is no doubting that Blastedis an astonishing production of an extraordinary play.  The text by once ‘enfant terrible’ of British Theatre Sarah Kane had its first production at the Royal Court Theatre in 1995.   

This particular rendition boasts a stunning set by Marg Horwell and is directed with exquisite finesse by Anne Marie Sarks 

On opening night it took a while for the ‘shell shocked’ audience to clap - but once we started we did so with great enthusiasm.  What amazed me was that no one walked out during the show shouting ‘depraved.’  Blasted‘takes no prisoners!’  It is very powerful and pervading theatre.  It is the type of work that one mulls over for days and days because it offers rich perceptions and startling insights.

Opening as a two hander, seemingly based in naturalism. We watch a tortured dysfunctional relationship that activates concerns about abuse and domestic violence.   Two helplessly mismatched individuals, a young woman played by Eloise Mignon and older man by David Woods, spend time together in an upmarket hotel room.  There is little joy and considerable miscommunication.  It would seem that the relationship really only exists due to the neediness of the bloke (David Wood) who appears to be more like a hit man than a jaded and ill journalist.  Emotional blackmail, psychological manipulation and violence reign.  And we, as audience, just want to better understand why these two are actually together in the ‘tinderbox’ of a generic hotel room.

As the work progresses it becomes a vastly more extensive study of ‘man’s inhumanity to man.’   Nothing is sacred and it speaks of deep primitive masculine drives towards brutal sexual violence.  

Kane seems to be trying to investigate the masculine need (of some men) to sexually abuse.  Through this play we see just how perceptive she was and how she is able to shed light on dark and irrevocably entangled behavior.  She was extraordinary in her capacity to delve into the deep and subliminal and bring it up, into the light, to be examined.

One must pay homage to Eloise Mignon, David Wood and Fayssal Bazzi.  Their capacity and courage, as actors, to work with the intimacy and trust required to truthfully communicate their characters experiences is astonishing.

Sound by Jethro Woodward is superb, particularly in the very early stages when it is melodic and bell like and when silenced; it leaves in its wake an aching sense of palpable yearning. 

This is one of those gems of theatre that we so often hope to find but very seldom do.

Five stars from me!

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)

The Fall - Review

The Fall

All Rhodes Lead to Decolonisation

Cast 

Ameera Conrad, Oarabile Ditsele, Zandile Madiwa, Tankiso Mamabolo, Sizwesandile Mnisi, Sihle Mngwazana, Dleo Raatus

Cast Curators - Ameera Conrad and Thando Mangcu

Facilitator - Clare Stopford

Set Design - Marisa Steenkamp

Executive Producer - Lara Foot

Arts Centre Melbourne

Fairfax Theatre

August 28 to September 2

Coming to us from The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and presented by students who were directly involved in the action; The Fall is vital, vibrant, massively relevant to our multi-cultural modern world and totally worth catching.

It is a rousing, honest and reflective work of ‘docu drama’ by a group of young people, about a student revolution at Cape Town University that aimed to remove a statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes – rhodesmustfall movement.  This campaign also sparked debate about removing a statue of Cecil Rhodes in Oxford.

The opening night in Melbourne was enthusiastically rewarded with a heartfelt, jubilant standing ovation.  

The clever, focused and energetic team of seven performers – through stirring and uplifting song, percussive sound, spoken word and enactment - describe how the lives of Black Africans are atrociously undervalued in Cape Town and presumably South Africa generally.  Even in the Tertiary Education System these young capable hardworking intellectual elite do not have the same social standing as their white counterparts.

The subtitle of this work  ‘All Rhodes lead to Decolonisation’, is a witty clever word play on the subject matter and a relevant call to action.   So hoping that many from our African communities get to catch this one.

The Fallis the perfect fare for VCE Drama Students and those working towards a collaborative style of making Verbatim Theatre.  It reminds us all of just how accessible, relevant and appealing political theatre can be if well handled.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)

Review - Scaramouche Jones

Arts Centre Melbourne Wander productions

Colin Friels 

in

Scaramouche Jones

By Justin Butcher

Performed by Colin Friels

Directed by Alkinos Tsilimidos

Set and Costume designer - Richard Roberts

Lighting Designer – Matt Scott

Sound Designer – Tristan Meredith

18 - 25 August 2018

Scaramouche Jones is a wonderful opportunity to see veteran actor Colin Friels convey a complex character with splendid insightful skill. 

 In a very short eighty minutes Friels captures and reels in his audience and entrances with stories of character the fictional clown Scaramouche, who has lived an exceptional life that highlights extraordinary events and happenings of the 20^thCentury. 

Too seldom now days we, as audiences, get the chance to watch our own ‘Theatre Royalty’ perform live for us.  In the intimate space of the Fairfax with his marvelously trained body and voice Friels is able to convey rich and detailed nuance that brings an audience to its feet for a standing ovation.

Last seen, last year, in Melbourne in The Faith Healer, an outstanding production from Belvoir Street, Melbourne Audiences are privileged to be able to watch Friels this year.

Friels does not seem to be ‘acting’ and certainly does not work with self-conscious flourish but rather lets Butcher’s very fine writing do its work through his well-modulated voice of resonant timbre.  

Son of a gypsy prostitute and an Englishman, the fictional, Scaramouche has lived a complex adventure.  He wears his seven white masks like the seven ages of man and gains each like a marvelous gem of wisdom honed through profound, challenging and yet at times tawdry experience.  There is much wonder, joy and many opportunities for laughter.

The set by Richard Roberts hints of circus and perhaps a ship.   To my mind it is a little dull, not that this is of great importance.  Although I am left with a nagging feeling that the space could be used to better advantage. Friels costume also by Roberts has a lovely understated elegance about it and is beautifully proportional clown costume.

The lighting changes on opening night were a bit clunky and obvious.  This is something that I believe I have experienced recently in the Fairfax and am wondering if technical difficulties are being experienced.

Small concerns aside, this is a splendid opportunity to watch, marvel at and support one of our seasoned ‘National Treasures’ in Colin Friels.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)

Review - Generation Jeans

Belarus Free Theatre

Generation Jeans

By Nicolai Khalezin with the 

Participation of Natalia Kaliada

Directed and Performed by

Nicolai Khalezin

Music by Lavr Berzhanin (DJ Laurel)

Interpreter and Subtitles Operator

Daniella Kaliada

Producer 

Claire Robertson

  

A Malthouse Theatre and Monash Academy of Performing Arts Production

Alexander Theatre – Monash University

6 – 8 August – 7.30

Malthouse Theatre

9 – 18 August 2018

  

With an excellent sense of irony and humour, in an open crisp grounded manner, Nacolai Khalezin tells, us, his story.  The choice of words and Khalezin’s native tongue evoke strong imagery.  Translation is sur-titled with enough time to read, whilst attaining adequate glimpses of the performer, to become entranced by the authenticity of his narrative and presentation.  

Generation Jeansis an acutely personal and poignant story of desire, and drive, for freedom.  Denim Jeans are a powerful and provocative symbol of this freedom.   As we follow Khalezin’s journey, as a young adult, of protest and incarceration the evening is flavoured, enhanced and endorsed by the most splendid sound track.  Throughout the audience is encouraged to examine and appraise, individual and personal notions of freedom. 

It is the story of a man, who is now in his early 50s that can be defined as ‘Post Dramatical Personal Theatre.’

The music as played for us by DJ Laurel - Lavar Berzhanin is penetratingly provocative, marvelously evocative and often (to my ear) more than fleetingly of the era under examination.  This msuic is largely comprised of Jazz, most particularly Electronic Jazz and Funk and Soul. At times it creates atmosphere, supports and underscores.  And at other times it seems to reach out to us - as it’s own separate identity - generating space for contemplation.  In this way it supports and endorses whilst adding breadth and space.

Khalezin’s story is of the drive for freedom, self-expression and freedom of speech that leads to political protest and brutal incarceration.  This incarceration, in all probability, made all the more terrifying for someone like Khalezin - a creative free spirit with a vivid imagination. 

Fascinatingly we are made privy to some of the twists of his mind and mind games as experienced when imprisoned.  

Khalezin uses marvelous imagery for example he talks of a man whose voice is ‘as grey as his suit’.  Much joy is expressed, in his rich European sensibility, of the love of pickles and sausages and the understanding of a woman for her man and vice versa.  From his description of jeans, the inference is that, they are ‘sexy’ and worn by attractive people.

At one point pivotal point we are asked to call out -  “I am free!”  Such a provocative way to position his audience to question!  What is freedom and self-determinism in our ever-contracting world where our autonomy is dwindling as we render ourselves more inescapably hostage to our mobile phones and social media.

Belarus Free Theatre builds its works as campaigns.  They create ‘Campaign Theatre.’  Its pivotal modus operandi is a heightened awareness to social injustice and human rights violations.  And here its members are experiencing, and creating work in, Australia.   And yes they have been to the Northern Territory and looked into the shameful way we have been treating refugees.  They are working with Australian Theatre Makers to wards a Melbourne International Festival show –Trustees.

Catch anything you can from and about these inspiring and courageous Theatre Makers

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)

Review - Dancing on the Volcano

‘Dancing on the Volcano’ 

A biting satirical journey through Berlin cabaret of the 20s and 30s

By Robyn Archer

With 

Michael Morley – Piano

George Butrumlis – Accordion 

 July 9-11 2018 at the Fairfax Studio – Arts Centre Melbourne

This show is a true delight moving its audience from laughter to tears.  Robyn Archer’s extraordinary capacity to engage with some of the darkest aspects of human nature, and then rise above it, whilst ushering her audience on a deeply entertaining expedition to source rare gems of perception, is nothing short of an exceptional gift.  

Musicians Michael Morley (piano) and George Butrumlis (accordion) work in wonderful well-oiled synchronicity with Ms. Archer on this intense and very moving, yet seemingly, brief and fleeting journey.  The 90 minutes, (twenty two musical numbers and two poems), of this show pass swiftly and leave one elevated.

Part disarmingly imparted History lesson the evening is presented with, clearly elucidating, explanations between each musical number. Many of these songs are not only pertinent but also acutely disturbing in relation to their place in history and relative to our escalating appetites and growing insensitivity to those around us who find themselves in desperate and precarious situations.

Ms. Archer is able to sing as though a bloated misogynist lecher transcending gender – presented as a kind of statement of fact, with reference to the ‘Me Too movement’.  By contrast she croons ‘Falling In Love Again’ with all the sensuality of Marlene Dietrich.  And yes an excellent rendition of ‘Mack the Knife’ from The Threepenny Operais included.

Then we also have the opportunity to listen to Frederick Hollaender’s satirical song set to Bizet’s music ‘The Jews’, a sharp reminder of how easy it is to slip into the inhumane behavior of ‘othering’ and blaming minority groups.  Ms. Archer also takes the opportunity of reminding us that it was the 1929 Wall Street Stock Market Crash that brought about the devastating world-wide Great Depression.  

And there is much to delight in in the awe-inspiring sagacious propensity of cabaret writers of Berlin in the 1920s and 30s. All men of exceptional talent and sadly impeded longevity.

I expected a marvelous night and couldn’t have asked for more.  Educated, entertained and deeply moved, my guest and, I left the Fairfax Theatre feeling satiated and uplifted.

Suzanne Sandow

Marie Antoinette - Review

Marie Antoinette 

By David Adjmi

Directed by Rachel Baring

Performed by Elisa Armstrong, Jessica Tanner, Eleanor Howlett, Heath Ivey-Law, Gabriel Partington and Conor Gallacher

Lighting Design by John Collopy

Set and Costume Design by Eloise Kent

Sound by Linton Wilkinson

Composition by Claire Ewing

West Wing Studio 2 – Northcote Town Hall

5 – 15 July 2018

Beautifully staged with design by Eloise Kent, competently directed by Rachel Baring and peopled with characters amalgamated by skilled actors Marie Antoinetteis a fascinating and insightful work.  Although a highly stylized it does bring us closer to the sense of Marie Antoinette as a very real person.

The space – West Wing Studio 2 - at the Northcote Town Hall is a great little black box with just the right kind of flexibility.  However there are times when a number of actors over project - vocalizing way too much gusto for the size of the area and number of audience. Over projection can be due to performers thinking that they are not getting the appropriate message across or perhaps due to feeling the audience is not really listening to them.

Some of the production values are excellent for example the costumes and wigs designed by Eloise Kent.  Movement from scene to scene is dealt with competently and smoothly.   And in the early scene Eleanor Howlett brings a lively fresh joyful sense of play on stage with her.

All cast members are trained and experienced and do a great job.  However,

subtlety and variation are missing as the evening progresses..  The work seems to be pitched at the same level and tempo from about midway through.  For me, this suggests, way to little rehearsal time.  There is no evidence that the extremes of the work have been explored in rehearsal.   This production needs to do more to convey the dramatic life and death concerns of the text by American playwright David Adjmi.  Strangely the acting becomes flat and neutral - not what could be expected from a work that was produced by Steppenwolf in New York.

Marie Antoinette requires a more dynamic approach to fully succeed and ‘pack the punch’ it truly could.

Now-days too much Theatre is under- rehearsed.  Even with the flag-ship companies we, too often, arrive at opening nights where works are precariously balanced between not being ready and almost being ready.   As a reviewer I often feel required to sense the potential for growth and to write of what can and probably will be realized in future performances.  With a season as short as the one set for Marie Antoinettethere is really not enough time for all actors to achieve their personal best by the last performance if the rehearsal period is inadequate.

(I saw the last performance.)

I would love to see this work restaged after a really gutsy period of work-shopping the imbedded ideas.  Certainly a troupe of performers who are dedicated to their craft and have a future.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)