Short and Sweet has returned to Sydney for it's annual short play festival. Every year, writers, actors and directors do battle in Short and Sweet. The audience votes for the 10 minute play they enjoyed the most, that evening. The best of the best is then shown at the Gala Final and Awards Night at the end of March.
Week one has just concluded and we now await the results. There were eleven plays, however you could only vote for 2 of 10 as Pete Malicki's play Checkout was not eligible, as the Festival Director, if he won, everyone would be a little skeptical of the result.
Checkout opened the night and the festival. Four actors all played the same character, Corinne, on the stage at the same time. Corinne works on the Supermarket checkout and she is more than a little put out by the recent introduction of the 'self' checkout computers. It is a very funny but poignant piece, highlighting the job losses and missed opportunities as people become replaced by machines.
Then came 10 short plays -
Emergency Exit Aisle by Will North. A young couple who had been traveling together, like so many, end up splitting up. They now have to sit together on their flight back home. It is a turbulent ride in more ways than one!
Deceit by Uma Kali Shakti. Who is cheating on who? This was very predictable.
Handyman by Kerry Bowden. Emily Kivilcin tells a tale of how she fell in love with Simon the handyman at Bunning Warehouse. All is going well until she discovers that he is giving maintenance to more than just houses! Emily gave a great solo performance.
Clean Break by Tom Jensen. Again it was quite predictable, a story about a wedding day breakup.
My Name is Cine-Ma by Athivanan Rajendran. This was an ITC winner of Short and Sweet in Chennai, Mumbai and KL and you could tell, it was so different and extremely well choreographed.
G by Miranda Drake. Miranda also directed G and was the only cast member. She plays several characters all of whom reflect on having more than ample breasts. I have a feeling this will not win even though this was good and was certainly a great achievement for Miranda.
I know, I know by Grant J Venables. A son and father both have issues and neither can help the other. This was not the best play of the night and I have to say I got very confused!
Team Building Activity by Phillip Gallop. Four workmates have to complete a team building task and as usual they are rather reluctant!
Do Not Dusturb by Robert Sharpe concluded the night. Set in an old peoples home, where an elderly resident is getting more than just the usual room service!
It was a great night of short plays, there will always be those that you like and those that you didn't. Some will be well constructed, rehearsed and acted and there will be those that are not quite so polished. The biggest challenge is remembering one from the other and can you name all ten when you leave the theatre?
Week Two will commence on Wednesday - go, you will have a great night and you will want to go back to see more. Will you pick the winner?
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