The Sea Project - Review

The Sea Project is written Elise Hearst and is playing at the SBW Stables Theatre until 29 September.  Elise was inspired by her Grandmother who came from Poland and the tales of escape she had encountered over the years. Elise says "It is just another boat story" but I thought it was much more than that.

It is the story of Eva, love an intrigue. Eva is washed ashore in a remote part of Australia. She is found by Bob who lives a very lonely existence, in his mothers old house.  He falls in love with Eva and she him. Eva can not remember much of her past. She has somehow lost a finger, she knows her name and how she likes her tea but that is all. Maciek then arrives also from Poland. He claims to know Eva, he has intimate knowledge of her past. Eva becomes torn between the past and the present.

Bob (Iain Sinclair) played a very believable, quite typical quiet Aussie bloke. A bit awkward around women, keeps himself to himself. Eva (Meredith Penman) was also very good. There were some lovely scenes with the two of them especially at the start of the play.  The set was very simple and the performance contain live music by the composer Tom Hogan, which went well with the production.

The Sea Project is not a play that will have you smiling from ear to ear with enjoyment, there are some funny moments and the theme of the play is very good. However, I did feel that it was lacking something, whether it was energy or contrast I am not sure, but certainly I felt that the performance dragged a bit in the second half.  But, as I have already said the concept was great and I certainly would have found it intriguing to know how Eva got to Australia. As with many boat people they have often come for somewhere most of us could not even begin to imagine.