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
