Left - Kate Box and Nathan O’Keefe in Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let
Me Listen. Cover - Brendan Rock, Carmel Johnson and Elena Carapetis
in Central Park West.
Three plays, three authors and three directors: a worthwhile attempt to
encourage young directors by the State Theatre Company, and a worthy
celebration of the company’s 35th birthday. But the evening almost
falls short of enjoyment for the audience.
Tennessee Williams’ Talk To Me Like The Rain and Let Me Listen (directed by Netta Yashchin) is a lugubrious yet challenging piece –
challenging for both actors and audience. It consists basically of two
enormous soliloquies, one from each of the actors, he lamenting his
hard done by life and missed opportunities, she lamenting her lost
dreams and lack of courage even to top herself, and both trying but
failing to communicate.
Nathan O’Keefe and Kate Box tried hard to make some sense of this dark
and heavy play, full of Tennessee Williams protracted pauses, however
their attempts at deep south accents were unconvincing. The play would
have lost nothing if they had just spoken normally. The music and
lighting were apposite, but the real star was the rain which fell
silently and incessantly outside the enormous stark marble window
throughout, subtly lit with changing hues and intensity, often
providing more interest than there was in the text.
Hot Fudge by the English playwright Caryl Churchill, neatly directed
by Geordie Brookman was a series of four vignettes of deceit and lies,
fraud and façade. Again the accents - cockney this time - were
unconvincing, with the exception of Carmel Johnson’s, as the actors
negotiated the fragmented and often cross-talking dialogue particularly
well. The design was exceptionally effective in tying the four
together by dexterous use of the revolve and a central pillar which
neatly understated the setting for each.
The entire project was saved by Woody Allen. A rollicking and polished
performance of his Central Park West is a credit to the actors and to
Director Hannah Allert. It is significant that the actors revelled in
this play which was so much more accessible than the other two, and
that their New York accents were much more consistent and believable.
Again the set was excellent, and complemented the unique Jewish humour
of this neurotic, guilt-ridden, conflicted yet extremely witty author.
This play is a wonderful spaghetti of tangled relationships,
deliciously spiced with tart one-liners. The cast severally and
together rose to the occasion, and sent the audience home smiling.
State Theatre Company of South Australia presents
Triple Threat Three one-act plays
VENUE:
The Dunstan Playhouse DATES:
12 - 28 Jul TIMES:
Mon - Wed @ 6.30pm, Thu – Sat @ 7.30pm TICKETS:
Adults $55, Conc $50 BOOKINGS:
131 246 or www.bass.net.au FURTHER INFORMATION: www.statetheatrecompany.com.au
The Hypocrite | Melbourne Theatre Company
Outstanding among the actors is Garry McDonald, who blasts on to the stage with a tempestuous energy, sweeping the play along in a torrent of words.
Read more
Avenue Q to open in MelbourneFrom Broadway to the West End, and the West End to Melbourne…the wait
is over and AVENUE Q fans can rejoice that the Tony Award Best Musical
winner will finally be enjoyed in Australia.
Read more
