All The Rage
Written by John AD Fraser
Presented by Tamarama Rock Surfers
Directed by Leland Kean
Reviewed by
Catherine Hollyman
If you’ve been to the Old Fitzroy Theatre, you’ll know that the small
performance space doesn’t afford the production company much scope with set
design. All The Rage takes this to the extreme. The plain white back drop, two doors
and lone chair tell us very little about what’s to come.
Like all good Irish plays, it gets off to an energetic start with a good
ol’ Irish jig that has everyone tapping their feet. Right off the bat, despite
the accents being difficult to understand, Fraser’s sharp-witted writing laced
with sarcasm shines through and it’s drier than The Great Victoria desert.
The Boiler and the Baker make the perfect comedy duo. I would love to
have seen their relationship develop more. It felt like a cross between Laurel
and Hardy with Tom and Jerry – a collaboration that earned them plenty of laughs
from a captive audience.
There were a couple of special effects some of which worked some that weren’t quite as effective, or even necessary.
Although the visual impact of red blood against the white wall is striking.
The ending crept up all too quickly which made it feel untimely and
rushed. In the main though, I was completely absorbed, so much so that I forgot
I was watching live theatre. I'm not sure if it felt like I was at a cinema or
a fly on the wall, but real time stood still and I was happily swept up into a
different world for an hour.
Booking
Information
Dates: on until July 14th
Times: 8pm
Venue: The Old Fitzroy Theatre, Cnr Cathedral and Dowling Sts
Woolloomooloo
Tickets:
$25
Conc, $33 Adult