Review - Romeo Is Not The Only Fruit

Poppy Seed Festival Presents:

Romeo Is Not The Only Fruit

Playwright, director and lyricist – Jean Tong

Composer and sound designer – James Gales

Dramaturge – Kim Ho

Musical Director and composition support – Will Hannagan

Set and Costume designer – James Lew

Performers:  Sasha Chong, Nisha Joseph, Margot Tanjutco, Pallavi Waghmode and Louisa Wall

This great positive lively show played to an almost full house on Saturday.  It is truly worth catching as theatre with a message that doesn’t preach but wholeheartedly entertains. It is youthful, joyful and delivered with a lovely light touch and showcases some exciting emerging talent.   

Romeo Is Not The Only Fruit tells a coming of age story of first love between two rather naïve lesbians.  The setting, in the milieu of a loving family with conventional expectations of their daughter and her friend, shines light on the very real tensions experienced for those who are not able to partner as anticipated. 

This work is romantic, feminist, domestic and partially race blind - all at the same time.  In fact the cultural references and discussions are a very liberating aspect of the whole.  And how timely!

As chorus and ancillary characters Nisha Joseph, Pallavi Waghmode and Sasha Chong tell the story and move the proceedings along with loads of clever and smooth segues.  The whole moves with lovely coordinated precision.  When called on to people the stage Lisa Wall as Darcy and Margo Tanjutco as Juliette exude romance with a touch of irony.

The singing is lovely and the songs (lyrics Jean Tong/music James Gales) are great  - particularly the boppy finale of ‘F… You’ that send the audience from the Auditorium on a high.  I was singing as I navigated the stairs through the kooky bar/lounge spaces of the Butterfly Club to emerge in Carson Place.

Jean Tong as Playwright/Director and Lyricist is inspired has a splendid sense of humour.  The program suggests that she is an excellent collaborator as she has garnered some first-rate creatives and great support and assistance.

There some little things that I would love to see worked on; such as a back stage that is not a cluttered mess.  And so often of late I have wondered if performers warm up adequately to be able to pack a punch at the beginning of a show.  The initial stages of this performance were seemingly tentative.  At the same time I do admit this could be part of its charm, this kind of makes the whole thing accessible and the performers appear humble.   However I would favour a more concerted polished approach from go to woe. 

A short show is a good show - so is a proficiently timed show.

Great fun and well suited to the venue and totally worth catching and supporting.

Suzanne Sandow

(For Stage Whispers)