Dirtyland is currently playing at the New Theatre in Newtown until 7 May. Last night was the opening of this premiere production.
As Anya played by Megan Holloway says at the beginning, it is a story about her tooth. The play is set on the site of a massacre and the story takes place in the aftermath. The staging and production of Dirtyland makes this production. The actual play itself is confusing to say the least. I was unsure of what the writer was trying, if anything, to portray. The characters didn't develop and you didn't feel any empathy towards any of them. You could certainly tell it was written by a woman as they were only two males both of which remove their clothes! There is some sexual tension and it briefly touches on the subject of rape, incest and homosexuality but there are huge holes in the story. Please go and see it and if you can tell me the answer to these questions I will be very grateful, what is it with the buttons? Why couldn't anybody leave? Why did they have to pay for the train journey with mirrors? How did they get food and milk with no money? I have more but you get the idea. Perhaps that was it, Elise wants you to make up the story and fill in the gaps, well it did have my husband and I talking about it for a whole hour on our journey home. It was like seeing one of those art works that is all red with one dot of white and you just think, what the ....?
The stage is covered in dirt which is fantastic because you really get the feeling of it being grubby, of something that has happened but what, you are not quite sure. The sound and music behind much of the scenes add to the atmosphere and tension. The lighting is excellent and even playful at times. I did particularly like Netta Yashchin's performance as Mrs Brown, even before the play had begun you knew she was a little batty!
Please go and see it and come back and comment, especially if you have the answers!
Friday 15 April 2011
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1 comment:
Dry and predictable. Don't bother.
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