Review - I Call my Brothers

Melbourne Theatre Company Education Presents:

I Call My Brothers

By Jonas Hassen Khemiri

Translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles

Cast

Ahlem - Alice Ansara

Amor – Osamah Sami

Shavi – Ray Chong Nee

Valeria – Joana Pires

Production

Director – Nadja Kostich

Set and Costume Designer – Marg Horwell

Lighting Designer – Rachel Burke

Composer and Sound Designer – Darrin Verhagen

Video Designer – Michael Carmody

Stage Manager – Vivienne Pozanski

Southbank Theatre, The Lawler

16 April to 1 May 2015

Regional Tour

4 May to 18 May 2015

I Call My Brothers is an intelligent, probing and poetic work that explores some of the rippling shock waves resulting from an inner city bombing.  It is superbly presented with all aspects woven together to create complex tapestry.   Layer on layer of story un-folds through the unreliable perceptions, of the main protagonist Amor (Osamah Sami), gradually informing the audience.  It feels like a rich rewarding journey of chasing, sometimes fleeting, meaning and is full of revelation.

This is the sort of satisfying Theatre that works the audience’s intellect, perceptions and emotions all at the one time.  It moves swiftly and efficiently and is not needlessly didactic or overtly literal but is primarily thought provoking.

As Theatre in Education the high caliber of the material can only be good for Secondary Schools Students and a ‘God Send’ for Teachers.  There are many issues and points of entry for Students.  Pertinent contemporary concerns are highlighted such as generational trauma, terrorism, suicide bombing, grief, alienation, friendship and psychological well-being.

The interactive set by Marg Horwell amongst other things serves as a metaphor for the main protagonist Amore’s mind.  And Horwell’s costuming is fittingly indicative and somewhat abstract.    Lighting (Rachel Burke) enhances scenes and atmospheres wonderfully.

Photo - Jeff Busby

Sound and composition by Daniel Verhagen is rich and varied.  It creates atmosphere and enhances the sense of journey of the whole. 

The actors Alice Ansara, Osamah Sami, Ray Chong Nee and Joana Pires work as an efficient, energetic and focused ensemble to serve the piece admirably.  Sami as Amor impressively plainly and clearly conveys his character’s messed up journey.

As director Nadja Kostich excels in bringing all elements together to allow for nuance.  She has the considerable advantage of working with a very seasoned production team.   Most significantly it is the commitment, comfort and clarity that the actors communicate with, that endorses her work as Director.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)