Sydney Reviews

Photo – Cole Bennetts

A short play written by John Patrick Shanley, known for writing such films as Moonstruck, Congo and Doubt, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea unveils the chance meeting between Danny and Roberta, two lonely individuals who come from the wrong side of the tracks. The play is set in the intimate space of the theatre upstairs at the Roxbury Hotel, incredibly appropriate, setting the stage before anyone walks into the theatre space.

As we do walk in to take our seats, we find that there is already someone there; Roberta (played by Karli Evans), who is completely absorbed in her bowl of pretzels that she assembles like dominoes. The audience is separated in two, one half front-on to the other, with a choice of milk crates, chairs or bar stools to sit on. The levels and positions created for the audience mirrors the complexity of the story, or should I say stories, that intertwine over the next 80 minutes.

Danny (played by Wade Doolan) enters carrying a glass and jug of beer, totally uncaring of his appearance or demeanour. From each side of the audience both Evans and Doolan sit and maintain an intensity that their characters necessarily possess. Evans is gut-wrenchingly revealing, exposed and uncomfortably honest, her character is broken however lovable. Doolan plays a rough exterior however, throughout the course of the play, demonstrates a vulnerable, comical side that got quite a few giggles from the audience. Doolan matches Evans in strength and passion, both giving startlingly engaging performances.

The direction (Director, Fiona Hallenan-Barker) and set up of the space (Set Designer, Anna Gardiner) allowed for a diverse experience depending on where you were seated. There are moments when Evans will glance in one direction and Doolan in the other and often you will catch a facial gesture that others may not. It leads the play to be all the more involving of the audience and a little voyeuristic too. A mention also goes to Ed Gain who provided an acoustic guitar soundtrack, appearing at certain intervals in the play with performances that matched the tone and mood perfectly, intertwining melancholy with a sense of optimism.

Overall, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea is a hard-hitting, intense piece of theatre. It would be difficult not to connect with the characters and their circumstances even though they may appear to be, on the surface, completely removed from our own. Although Roberta and Danny stand on the extreme periphery and, clearly, have made a hell of a lot of bad decisions, the play is a hopeful one and worth more than a single sitting.  


Little Spoon Theatre Company presents
DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
by John Patrick Shanley

Director Fiona Hallenan Barker

Venue: Roxbury Hotel | 152 St Johns Rd, Glebe NSW
Dates: 22 – 30 August, 2014
Performances: 8pm Wednesday – Saturday. Saturday matinee 23rd and 30th August 2pm
Tickets: $30 Full. $25 Concession.
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/80412