Left – Airlie Dodds, Paula Arundell and Shari Sebbens. Photo – James GreenDoris Day’s dulcet velvet voice evokes a dreamy domesticity, a counterpoint to the domestic nightmare of the murder ballad we’re about to enter. Que Sera Sera stops abruptly and we are dropped into darkness, sudden as a gallows trapdoor. Darkness, followed by cacophony, then silence, save for a lingering percussive tone, piercing, ear ringing, flat-lining.
And then……...Darkness visible on a female face, emerging from the opaque blackness, then two more female faces, and from the utter silence, they utter bitter eulogy over the man they've just despatched.
“Girls I think your father's dead.
- I knocked his knees out.
- I conked his head.
- I shot that house clown in the neck.”
We know whodunnit, but why?
As the narrative unfolds in cascading chorus we discover abusive husband, fearful and frightful father, and serial terrifier of his family.
“Same old story, heard it a thousand times before, too many times to mention, same old story this time pushed too far.”
Shamefully familiar story, but The Bleeding Tree gives coruscating clarity, energy and power by word wallop, a trenchant text wielded like an emotional truncheon, bruising, bold and brilliant.
The Bleeding Tree is written by Angus Cerini and it won the Griffin Award for New Australian Playwriting in 2014. In 2015 it received a brilliant production at Griffin Theatre, a production that garnered Helpmann Awards for Best Play, Best Director and Best Actress. This production is a remount, a reunion of cast and key creatives.
The play, which also won last year’s AWGIE, David Williamson Prize and NSW Premier’s Literary Award is reminiscent of the muscular poetic clout of the best of Berkoff.
Visceral vernacular is hammered and shaped on an anvil of versification, made buoyant and cast aloft, floating and soaring in lyrical triumph, creating theme and character and nuance.
Apart from the characters presented on stage, others are evoked by sheer storytelling strength in word and delivery.
For example, the arrival of the postman who is also the proxy policeman of the area, and his dog.
“Steve the postie copper Steve, thing what passes for judge and detective round here.”
As all the women are complicit in the demise of “Dad”, there is a sort of Murder on the Orient Express aspect to the deed. Postie/policeman Pete is no Poirot, however there is intuitive impulse, and his dog doesn’t dilly dally over the numb skull’s bones.
The Bleeding Tree tackles the bleeding obvious -domestic violence is endemic in society yet contrary to community – and gives voice to this dark truth, rising above despair, a deliverance of natural justice, in searing, severe sentencing.
The performances in The Bleeding Tree are even better than I remembered, polished perfection. Paula Arundel as Mum, Airlie Dodds and Shari Sebbens as the siblings, each sublime, intrinsic storytellers.
Renee Mulder’s set is a pyramid rake of busy floral carpet, symbolic perhaps of the traditional cosy floor covering of domestic bliss, under which so much domestic debris is swept; the rake implies her elevation to the hard won moral high ground from the valley of victim-hood. Strategically lit by Verity Hampson, this encore production of The Bleeding Tree again boasts a subtly haunting score and sound scape by Steve Toulmin.
Director Lee Lewis works her cool stage alchemy, orchestrating chorus, choreography and contemplation in a production that is accomplished and complete, crystalline and pure. In her original director's note, Lee Lewis stated '”This is a hopeful play. I do it in the hope that in my lifetime it will cease to be a timely story.”
A couple of years on, the story is still timely, and this encore production cements The Bleeding Tree as a bonafide classic.
Sydney Theatre Company presents
a Griffin Theatre Company production
The Bleeding Tree
by Angus Cerini
Director Lee Lewis
Venue: Wharf 1, Sydney Theatre Company, The Wharf, Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
Dates: 9 March – 8 April 2017
Tickets: $49 – $55
Bookings: 02 9250 1777 | www.sydneytheatre.com.au
