Skylight - Review

David Hare’s internationally acclaimed work Skylight comes to Sydney for Ensemble Theatre, bringing the West End and Broadway hit to local audiences.
Director Mark Kilmurry has ensured the opening scenes set a cracking pace, quickly establishing characters and a convincing back story, and it’s easy to see why the play has resounded with audiences around the globe.

Kyra, played by the likable and convincing Katharine Cullen, lives in a cold flat in a less than desirable part of London and is visited by both her ex-lover, ex-boss and ex-centre of her universe Tom (Sean Taylor), and his teenage son Edward (Nigel Turner-Carroll) in the same evening. Both have questions about her hasty exit from their lives after her six-year affair with Tom was discovered by his now deceased wife.

As the scenes unfold, it becomes obvious that neither Tom nor Kyra have really ever come to terms with the end of their relationship and their evening together raises uncomfortable questions for both of them. Taylor’s performance as the arrogant and often overbearing Tom is highly entertaining and the intelligent verbal sparring that takes place between he and Cullen is littered with facial expressions from both actors that had the opening night audience laughing out loud at times, then clearly quickly despising his self-importance soon afterwards – a credit to his talents.

Alisa Paterson’s fully functional set design adds to the realism of the story unfolding on stage, and it almost feels as if we’re eavesdropping on the passionate arguments playing out in front of us.

Whilst the second act loses momentum somewhat, the power of the script and its delivery leaves a desire to uncover the truth behind the story of these two connected individuals.

This play is by no means optimistic, but the depth of the complexities of the couple’s relationship explored on stage leave the audience with an almost satisfying sense that if something is meant to be, it will be, and if it’s not – maybe that’s meant to be too.


VENUE: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli, NSW, 2061
DATES: Previews from June 21, 2012, Opening Night Wed 27 June, season to July 28, 2012
PERFORMANCE TIMES: Tues to Fri 8.15pm Sat 5pm and 8.30pm, Sun 5pm, Thurs 11am.
PRICES: $29 - $69 (booking charges may apply)
BOOKINGS: 02 9929 0644 or www.ensemble.com.au

When Dad Married Fury - Review

When Dad Married Fury written by David Williamson is playing at the Ensemble.  If you want a good giggle you need to see this.
The play is about two brothers who are desperate to get their fair share of their father's inheritance. They are about to meet their fathers new young bride, will she be the gold digger they expect? Both sons, Ian (Warren Jones) and Ben (Jamie Oxenbould) are married. Ian's wife Sue is a lawyer and is just as determined as Ian in making sure they get their fair share of Alan's ( Nick Tate) estate.  She doesn't beat about the bush and when asked if she is only interested in the money replies "quite frankly... yes." Ben is married to Laura (Di Adams). Laura's father has recently committed suicide having lost everything by making a bad investment on Alan's advice. Of course this creates quite a bit of tension between Laura and Alan especially as Alan didn't loose any money when the GFC hit.  Amongst all the humour this was a serious theme to the play.  The play also explores the relationships between husbands and wives and married life. Some of the scenes were very funny. The first scene with Laura and her Mum, Judy (Lorraine Bayly) was very sad but had heaps of humour. I loved the comments about the white splats all over the bathroom mirror and other references to the frustrations of living with a man! Enter Fury,  who turns out not to be quite what Ben and Ian expect. You will have to go and see it to find out more!

The production is simple with very little staging but is not a bad thing as the dialogue is so strong it carries the play. It is fairly fast moving and very entertaining. The cast is well chosen Cheree Cassidy makes a very good slight off the wall Fury and Lorraine Bayly plays a very good grieving widow.  It is a good solid production which I think most people will enjoy.

The Gingerbread Lady

The Gingerbread Lady written by Neil Simon opened on Friday and will play at the Ensemble Theatre until 29 April.
Kate Raison plays Evi Meara, a cabaret singer who has just returned from a ten week stint in rehab for being an alcoholic.  Her two best friends Toby (Danielle Carter) and Jimmy (Tamblyn Lord) try to keep her sober but both have their own issues to worry about. Toby in particular brings much of the humour to the play with her obsession about her appearance; but as you find out later she is extremely unhappy and her marriage is about to fail.  Jimmy is an out of work gay actor, he clearly loves Evi and cares for her, but has no idea how to help her. The scenes at the start of the play with the delivery boy are very amusing and certainly the highlight of the first act. Polly (Kellie Clarke), arrives unexpectantly to live with Evi. She is seventeen and has never lived with her mother.  Evi split from her husband many years earlier. She is naive and innocent and tries to take on the motherly role, particularly at the end of the play.  Of course it is not long before Evi slips back into old habits, Polly however sticks by her. She is strong and refuses to admit defeat.
The play was written in the 70's but is just as relevant today as it was then. This is the third time the Ensemble Theatre has put on this production (1973, 1987, 2012). It still highlights the destructive force that alcohol can have and the effect an alcoholic can have on others around them.
Overall, it was a great production.  The set and costumes were as the 70's, though this I did find confusing. I assumed wrongly that it was present day so the set did trouble me that it wasn't in keeping with a well-to-do singer. It is only now when I look back that it falls into place.
This production is 2 and 3/4 hours long and in my opinion it was far too long, the first act dragged to the interval and about 10% of the audience thinking that the next 1 3/4 hours would be the same left. The second act had a faster pace and nobody fell asleep, so when the third act started I hoped it would be the same but it went back to way to much dialogue that slowed it down again. It was 11 pm when we finally escaped. It was a shame because on the whole I thought it was good, just in needed cutting down.
Photo by Steve Lunam

Warning: Explicit Material by Geoffrey Atherden

First up, this has to be the most intellectual play I have seen this year. You can tell it is written by an award winning writer.  This is a world premiere and I wouldn't be at all surprised it if doesn't go on to win many international prizes.  It has to tick all the boxes of what makes an outstanding play and one that I believe will stand the test of time. It is funny, it is shocking, it is entertaining but most of all you go out knowing perhaps a little more about art and humanity, even questioning your own beliefs.