Sydney Reviews

Left – Wade Doolan and Lara Lightfoot

If you have ever heard your parents have a really intense argument and felt like you were totally helpless and just sat there and listened, you will feel that same experience haunt you again in Stitching. Referred to as that ‘sex play’, this production is a heartfelt and brutal look at the life (and death) of a romantic relationship.

The two performers that take us on the very bumpy journey are Lara Lightfoot (Abby) and Wade Doolan (Stuart), who funnily enough, are a couple in real life. They do reinforce that their relationship is miles apart from Abby and Stuart, who painstakingly decide whether to keep the baby that has started to grow inside of Abby. They work towards the resolution together, however seem to be in completely different places. In one moment they sit side by side scribbling on bits of paper and in another they are yelling, murmuring and sobbing on each end of the couches in their apartment. It is clear here that a life choice such as this needs more than a list of pros and cons.

The non-linear narrative of the relationship unfolds in this short and sweet production at the TAP Gallery (Darlinghurst) in a very intimate theatre, where nothing is hidden. Emotions are laid bare as the characters reveal their true selves, which is a confronting yet liberating experience. Lightfoot portrays a young conflicted woman, a whore and a mother, as Doolan plays the young conflicted man, a misogynist and a father. In all that is love, sex and (real) life, Lightfoot and Doolan really let go of any inhibitions and thrust themselves into the roles that are often kept behind closed doors.

Sonically clarifying the relationship and its defining moments, Chelsea Reed (under the moniker of Imogen Bel) sings us through such instants, acting as a soothing yet melancholic component to the production. Her figure hides behind a screen, lit up ever so slightly with a light bulb that shines behind her. Reed acts as a narrator and a guiding light – a beautiful and significant contribution to the story.

All in all, Stitching is quite heavy, but there are moments of sweetness and laughter too. You will also get the novelty factor of a large black dildo and some stage blood that will be difficult to get out of your head. The production will leave you questioning your own relationships, past present and future, and make you appreciate the happy moments that are often fleeting.


Little Spoon Theatre Co. presents
Stitching
by Anthony Neilson

Venue: Upstairs Theatre, TAP Gallery, 278 Palmer St, Darlinghurst
Dates: March 26 – April 12, 2014
Times: 8pm Tuesday – Saturday. Saturday matinee April 12, 2pm
Tickets: $30 – $20 (Strictly 18+)
Bookings:www.littlespoontheatre.com | www.trybooking.com/ecfv