Theatre Junkies!

By Erica J. Brennan

As we enter the Lennox Theatre at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, the audience is greeted with, not a stage, but rather an unassuming black wall. It’s only adornment a heavy picture frame set right in the middle of it. The poster promised a meeting of live performance and instillation art among other things and indeed for just under an hour we were treated to a beautifully sustained image of what seemed to be a moving painting.

Two women, Victoria Hunt and Tess de Quincey, move at micro-speed through subtle and spectacular images of the human emotional landscape. Their heads and torso hemmed in by the picture frame, nothing else is visible and nothing else becomes visible. The literal framing of these women focuses the audience intensely on their faces and the exquisite ability of both performers to pass through silent expressions of emotion; screams, laughter, horror, love, suspicion and more. Complex and rich facial expression, body positions and moments of tension were held with compelling and transcending grace and you could not help but be in awe. I found myself slipping in and out of deep focus and contemplation but it felt okay, like the slipping was part of the performance as a whole.

Sitting in the dark of the theatre I felt safe enough to let my face and body respond to this. I could also hear other audience members responding in kind, they would chuckle as grotesque grimaces were pulled and I could certainly feel a collective slump in people shoulders as Tess de Quincey moved through a harrowing expressionnof world weary grief. I almost wish I brought a painting pallet – and could paint well enough to do the images justice.

As the piece drew to a close – We knew it was coming due to a beautifully jarring score by Michael Toisuta as it wound down to singular plucking sounds- I found myself able to frame each emotion, name and understand each one that passed. But more than that I stopped trying to fit these passing images into a story or narrative and just let them pass through. It was strangely comforting to watch. It felt somewhat like it was a communal meditation on emotion, a witnessing of it without feeling it. A beautifully executed piece by two performers of superb skill. Don’t miss it if you are looking for something a bit different and would love a chance to quiet the mind and let some beauty in.

Framed is performing until Saturday. Cick here for booking details.

Photography by Heidrun Lohr

by Emily Elise

Storylines Festival – 31^st July 2012

The Storylines Festival’s aim is to showcase the stories of Sydney’s Malaysian, Islamic, Indigenous and African refugee communities through theatre, art, dance, music and public forums. Opening night featured two of the three plays by successful playwright Justin Fleming; A Land Beyond the River and Junction.

A Land Beyond the River is rehearsal for a play within a play, based on interviews with three young African Refugees and their journey to Australia interwoven with scenes from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. With themes such as colour blind casting, patriotism and racial discrimination, it brings up issues that few theatre makers dare to go near.  Watching the To Kill a Mockingbird scene play out presents a message without being preachy or condescending, and is given a context in the previous scene that allows the audience to see it in a whole different light. The young cast are a tight ensemble, each bringing distinctive skills to the piece and an enthusiasm that keeps the piece alive.

Junction is set in “no man’s land”, at a long abandoned railway station where two young travellers have decided to spend the night. As darkness falls, strange things begin to happen and choices must be made. The performances of the two actors were beautifully composed, Stacey Duckworth is quick witted and natural, while Guy Simon displays a caring nature in his character despite his cheeky comebacks and comic relief after a build up of tension. Justin Fleming must be given credit for a cleverly composed script that keeps your attention on every single word that is uttered and an intriguing storyline that leaves you wanting more.

Storylines Festival has its heart in the right place and matched it with performances that won’t disappoint. Make sure you get there early to check out the Voices and Visions Art Exhibition and some pre show entertainment of live music and ‘The Saints’ contemporary dance team.

For more information, visit http://www.nida.edu.au/Whats-On-Production-10-page/default.aspx

by Erica J Brennan

Celebrity Theatre Sports – ImproAustralia

Theatresports can be as unnerving for the audience as it is for the performers. When the actors are inspired and working together as a team it has the potential to be exhilaratingly brilliant and funny. However, if the creative juices aren’t flowing and performers start grabbing for easy laughs it can make for some very painful and egotistical comedy. The Celebrity Theatresports competition, held on July 21 at the Enmore Theatre, was produced by ImproAustralia, a non-for profit NSW organisation dedicated to improvisational performance that are capable of drawing on high calibre Theatresports players, and I immediately knew we were in safe hands. The competition was staged as a charity event with money raising going towards CanTeen, which supports young Australians living with cancer and their families, and so received top marks for both its social and entertainment value. Each team contained a mix of celebrities and experienced players, all of whom were enthusiastic and skilled. The celebrities, including Scott Major, Andrew O’Keefe, Adam Spencer, Claire Hooper and Dan Ilic, seemed eager to play and the energy of all on stage carried the audience along for a fun and exciting night. Despite occasionally patchy sound from the players that weren’t mic’ed, the production flowed beautifully and made for a very slick event.

Each game flowed joyously on to the next, gathering momentum and laughs along the way. Some teams were particularly dynamic and in tune with each other, and it was no surprise that these ones made it to the end of the competition. There were many fabulous moments, particularly a jungle safari delivered in another language, an attack of buffalos and sunflowers and a Stone Age love story. The crowning moment of the evening was a Belvoir-styled Shakespearean performance that prompted all the men to appear in their underwear, with one fabulous celebrity upping them by going topless, her hands crossed cheekily over her torso.

Overall, it was a charming and effortless evening of live performance. I know I would willingly come back every week to watch these talented individuals, as there is nothing more wonderful than feeling you are included in a group of adults who are willing to be silly and play.

More information on Impro Australia and Theatresports competitions can be found at www.improaustralia.com.au