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The Late Henry Moss | Human Sacrifice Theatre |
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Written by Elisa Ghisalberti
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Sunday, 13 July 2008 |
 Left - Mark Diaco. Cover - Mark Diaco & Lee Mason
The
Late Henry Moss depicts two estranged brothers, Earl (Lee Mason) and Ray
(Mark Diaco), who come together after the death of their father, the
titular character (Bruce Kerr). The play is classic Sam Shepherd and
incorporates elements familiar to much of his work: a mid-western
setting, a volatile relationship between brothers, the echoing sins of
parental figures. As the brothers retrace their father’s last
days,thrown into the mix are his girlfriend (Marcella Russo), a taxi
driver (Justin Hosking) and neighbour (Alex Pinder) who help to excavate
the horrors of the past.
This
was my first experience of Human Sacrifice Theatre and I was undeniably
impressed. The ensemble is stunning and whilst it would be unfair to
single any of them out, Mason and Diaco embody their characters
completely and allow the world of the play to come alive (it has to be
noted that the accent work is particularly fine). Diaco has a languid
presence and gives a slow-burning performance that is transfixing
to watch. Mason, on the other hand, is like a tightly-coiled fist, ready
to burst at any moment. Together, they allow Shepherd’s words to spring
off the page and into this other-worldly New Mexico. Every other
character is given moments to shine in the The Late Henry Moss without
upsetting the balance of the relationship between the brothers. The
strong patriarchal figure echoes King Lear and Long Day’s Journey Into
Night and allows us a psychological insight into why the brothers have
such tension between one another.
David
Myles ably directs the play, which could easily suffer from being “too
talky”, and brings a steady hand to the piece, allowing it to flow
smoothly whilst still being alive and surprising. I got a great sense
that Myles understands this piece so well, so he is confident in knowing
when to let it breathe and when to take control. Lucas Silva Myles’
lighting is perfectly unobtrusive and the live music of Richie Brownlee
is well-suited in its sparse, portentous tones. Although this is a world
that is unfamiliar to me, the strong technical elements allowed me
to experience the world, rather than be outside of it.
This
is a wonderful achievement for Human Sacrifice Theatre and once again
proves that it is the independent companies that keep the Melbourne
theatre heartbeat pumping.
Human Sacrifice Theatre present
The Late Henry Moss
By Sam Shepherd
Venue: Chapel Off Chapel | 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran (Melways: Map 2L Ref J10)
Dates: 10 – 27 July
Times: Thurs – Sat 8pm, Sun 6pm
Tickets: $27 Full, $23 Con (+bf)
Bookings: 03 8290 7000 or www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
Info: www.humansacrificetheatre.com
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