Review - Rhonda is in Therapy

Rhonda is in Therapy

By Bridgette Burton

Produced by Hoy Polly and Baggage Productions

Directed by Wayne Pearn, Dramaturge – Julian Meyrick, Set and costume design – Kat Chan

Lighting design – Richard Vabre, Sound design – Tim Bright, Stage Manager – Lindon Blakey

Rhonda – Louise Crawford, Lief – Ben Grant, The student – Jamieson Caldwell, The therapist – Kelly Nash  

45 Downstairs - 7 to 23 September

  

Rhonda is in Therapy is a lively, insightful and satisfying play about the lengths gone to, by a young wife and mother, to remain in the limbo of denial, after experiencing a life-changing trauma that places her in the face of overwhelming grief.

It explores the cracked reality of Rhonda, a teaching professor of Chemical Engineering.  We watch her deal with her grief inspired, outrageous sexually exploitative behavior - through Therapy.  This challenging behavior is enacted as it is discussed to hilarious affect at times.

A multi layered work it is framed as a progressive and successful journey through Therapy - from piquant self-delusion to the contrasting self-empowering, yet somewhat dreary, acceptance of day-to-day reality.  And as such, is cleverly and skillfully penned, with a number of surprising and fascinating reveals.

Writer Bridgette Burton displays quite some insight. There is a wicked sense, in this work, that although socially inconvenient and often personally destructive - extravagant dissociative delusions can have a fabulous exciting and invigorating edge.

Almost everything about this production is outstanding even the very trite title ‘Rhonda is in Therapy’ is actually perfect.  The Direction by Wayne Pearn seamlessly incorporates some disjointed and abstract scenes with competence and grace, smoothly welding the whole together.  Sound by Tim Bright is used to signal (psychological) atmosphere to good effect.

Pearn truly brings out the best in his actors.  As Lief, Rhonda’s longsuffering husband, a generous kind man with a grounded sense of self, Ben Grant is just right physically.  He clearly expresses all the love, perseverance and dedication required to make perfect sense of this role.  Jamison Caldwell plays the student as sensitive and caring - irresistible ‘eye candy’.  And as the therapist Kelly Nash very naturally conveys a perceptive clinical interest in her patient and cleverly transmits the intense and slightly sickening atmosphere of the Psychiatrists Consulting Room.  Louise Crawford just shines as Rhonda.

If I were rating this production it would get four and a half out of five stars.  And where did that half a star go?  Well, it is actually a little too long, the last fifteen or so minutes drag a little.  And then there is what seemed to be an irrelevant red herring of the name of Rhonda’s lover being the same as that as one of her children.  Maybe this idea has a basis in some interesting psychoanalytic theory but just feels awkward and unnecessary in the context of the story.  For me these small issues pale into insignificance in light of a very entertaining and satisfying whole. 

Really Good Theatre!

Suzanne Sandow

For Stage Whispers

Review - RRAMP

RRAMP

The Collector, the Archivist and the Electrocrat

Arts House

North Melbourne Town Hall

5 – 8 September

Devised and Performed by Christine Johnston, Lisa O'Neill, Peter Nelson, Animation - Ahmarnya Price, Video Production – Jen Jackson, Costume Design and Construction – Selene Cochrane, Lighting Design – David Walters, Production Stage Manager – Leila Maruan.

Put simply, RRAMP is a beautifully produced quirky, eccentric collection of animated (Ahmarnya Price) love stories, mostly about life in the hen house. These are seamlessly presented by The ‘extraordinary’ Collector (Christine Johnston) with the assistance of her, longsuffering, ‘tenants’ the dancing Archivist (Lisa O’Neil) and musician Electrocrat (Peter Nelson). 

This sophistically costumed (Selene Cochrane), formidable talented ensemble entrance as they bemuse with song, dance and story. 

The disturbing issues of hording - at the core of RRAMP, though only really touched upon, provoke thought and leave a residue of intrigue.  In searching for meaning with regard to this motif there is, amongst other things, a suggestion that hoarding has vicariousness at its heart.

Many will recognize Christine Johnston as the easily lead and rather fragile Kransky Sister, Eve.  In RRAMP her ‘over the top’ character, reminiscent of Morticia from ‘The Addams Family’, of The Collector allows her to explore and thoroughly entertain as a bemusing and controlling spinster of a darker more creepy nature.

Musically the work is very satisfying and the lovely, cleverly integrated dancing by Lisa O’Neil is delightful. 

We are so fortunate, that currently, this type of vital and inspiring alternative work is being developed, supported and brought to us by our arts bodies.  And for our part - we should endeavor not to miss any of it!

Suzanne Sandow

For Stage Whispers