April is breaking up with Sam over breakfast because she
simply doesn’t find him funny anymore. Sam doesn’t find this especially funny
either as they work in the same office. An office where Harry (presumably short
for Harriet) and Danny decide to spontaneously be in love. Except Harry is somewhat
more intense about this development than one might expect. An office where Matt
is interested in April but isn’t particularly well versed in relationships
despite the example of his annoyingly in love housemates, Lila and Gavin.
Then
again, Lila and Gavin’s relationship is headed for prickly territory as a
cactus called Calamity comes between them, literally and alliteratively.
Meanwhile April is keen to “get back on the horse” despite the reservations of
practical colleague Sylvia. Her date with Jaxon, a slick dude who isn’t exactly
lacking in confidence, ends in disaster. All the while ‘Jimmy’ and ‘Sally’
pontificate about the universe, love, and death.
If this sounds like the premise for a sitcom you would be
absolutely right. These characters, some more grounded than others, intersect
and collide in various ways in familiar settings – the office, the shared
house, the club. It is very funny, sharply observed, with some bizarre tangents
that fit the sitcom format perfectly. The set is predominantly bright pink but
full of bold colours that reminded me of the Ewan McGregor, Renee Zellweger
movie Down With Love, itself a homage
to the ‘sex comedies’ of the 60s.
The script by Gita Bezard is excellent with several sly
writer gags (always guaranteed to hook me), cracking dialogue, and interesting
takes on familiar devices – a Greek Chorus that narrates actions that a
character isn’t undertaking which is a refreshing change; the ten self-aware
characters periodically commenting on the emotional state of their collective
while jostling for attention in line; and the one actor (Jessica Nyanda Moyle)
playing both parts of the Jimmy/Sally tandem while enigmatically clutching an
empty glass jar. I took this variously to represent the universe at one point
but also the intangible nature of their love.
The play fairly rattles along with slick direction by Adam
Mitchell as he keeps the actors hovering in the wings when not featured in what
really is a series vignettes that all weave together. The transitions are like
cuts to a new scene as actors rotate into the next sequence effortlessly. The
sitcom analogy is an apt one in construction, direction, and pacing. One of the
actors even offered afterwards that he was channeling a famous sitcom
character for aspects of his role.
Which brings us to the ten actors from Curtin University’s
Performance Studies. With such good writing and
direction their characters were all distinctively drawn and they brought them
to life with impressive craft and great comic timing.
Chelsea Gibson is the confident April who dismisses Sam at
the start of the play and who carries the main narrative thread. Gibson gives
April a sense of self-worth and purpose even when faced with the obnoxiously
‘superior’ Jaxon, played by Sean Guastavino with cringe worthy precision that
was funny and infuriating. She also has the key monologue towards the end of
the play that reveals the meaning of the title and shows a tender vulnerability
that was compelling.
Alexander Gerrans imbues the dumbstruck Sam with
recognisable and escalating fury as he tries to comprehend his girlfriend’s
decision to dump him. There is a simmering energy to his performance as the
anger unfurls only to be casually batted away by April’s indifference.
Beth Tremlett and Nathan Whitebrook move from clingy couple
to something altogether more interesting as the cactus subplot spins them off
into strange territory indeed. Whitebrook’s Gavin has a disturbing infatuation
with Calamity that he expresses with serene contentment, genuine concern, and
irrational outbursts. This only fuels Tremlett’s Britney Spears loving Lila’s
incredulity and refusal to change her ways for a plant. They bounce off each
other well and the whole thing spirals out of control as relationships can do
over the most ridiculous of things.
Anna Lindstedt is the straight to the point Sylvia who plays
the office confidant with no nonsense practicality. Daisy Coyle and Tristan
McInnes make a dynamic couple in the throes of first love. Coyle allows Harry
to unravel in spectacular fashion ending in a triumphantly over-the-top
announcement to colleagues at the bar. McInnes deftly exhibits increasing
levels of bemusement over Harry’s antics (as if to say 'she’s craaaaazy!') while still committed
to the thought of Danny being in love with her. There was a restraint here that was
fascinating.
Jessica Nyanda Moyle’s character is the one that sits
outside the main story and whose function seemed more to serve a thematic
purpose than narrative one. She manages to express both poignancy and humour
while inhabiting dual roles with subtle voice and facial changes.
Then there’s Kane Parker as Matt who is the other half of
the equation in the main story thread. His character is treated as a bit of a
loser but Parker shows him more as someone lacking in confidence and
self-esteem who is merely trying to make a connection. His work with Gibson at
the end is a quiet highlight amongst the craziness.
Love, loneliness and connection are certainly foremost in
the minds of all these characters regardless of how bizarre some sequences may
be; the cactus as surrogate child one of many subversions of usual
expectations. The bold set design and lighting was very good in the intimate space
and I very much liked the subtle sound design as well.
This was a very well written, acted, directed and presented
play with plenty of laughs befitting its sitcom DNA. I have seen plays before
that didn’t seem to realise they were actually a sitcom and therefore failed but In A
Bony Embrace knows exactly what it is and is expertly executed. It is a late
year surprise and definite highlight to cap off Curtin’s 2015. It is on at The Blue Room until 12 December.
No comments:
Post a Comment