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
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