Thursday, May 22, 2008

Impressions (take two)

Being some brief impressions - I wouldn't call them reviews - of some recently seen performances around town.

(I deleted last night's version of this post as I was in a foul mood when I posted it, and figured I might have been a bit too harsh on at least one of the shows I was discussing. On retrospect, it's still crap, but I wanted to be more considered in my condemnation...)

Bangarra Dance Theatre: Mathinna
















The latest work by indigenous dance troupe Bangarra explores the life story of a young Indigenous woman, Mathinna, who was removed from her family at a young age and raised in the household of the Governor of Tasmania. Choreographed by Stephen Page, this production tells her story - a tale of vulnerability and a search for identity - through dance. While featuring a beautiful set and striking lighting design, I found the story itself presented almost too literally; an impression given weight by David Page's score, which lacked shading and subtlety. That said, a more abstract exploration of the work may have failed to convey the key elements of Mathinna's story, which was clearly central to Page's approach to the work.

"This is not a happy story. It’s about now, and the Stolen Generation … and at the same time, it was really about the spiritual world that Mathinna was connected to, and what happens to her after her death. It was always going to be a challenge," Page told MCV earlier this month.

Mathinna is now showing at the The Arts Centre, Playhouse until May 24


The Australian Shakespeare Company: Richard III Unhinged

This new production of Richard III by Glenn Elston's Australian Shakespeare Company could be read as an attempt by Elston, best known for his unashamedly crowd-pleasing outdoor productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and other plays, to be taken seriously as a director. If so, it's an abject failure.

The production stars, among others, Brendan O'Connor (perhaps best known at present for a recurring role on the soap opera Neighbours) as the villainous titular character, Richard of Gloucester; Phillip Cameron-Smith as Richard's eldest brother, King Edward IV; Denis Coard as the second-eldest brother George of Clarence; and a hopelessly miscast Lisa Angrove in a scenery-chewing role as the elder Queen Margaret, whose shrieked and muttered warnings to the court about Richard's villainy go quite unheeded.

The casting is one of the first of many flaws in this production. Save for O'Connor, who brings at least some charisma to his role, and his sly asides to the audience; the majority of actors were, to be blunt, dreadful.
The casting of Elston's own young sons as the doomed Princes Richard and Edward suggested nepotism at best; at worst a director blind to the faults of the entire production; their dialogue was delivered seeminly without understanding; and their lines were rushed. Elsewhere, flair and stage presence were singularly lacking, save perhaps for Francesca Waters as the Duchess of York.

The staging, too, left much to be desired. Clarence's murderers were played strictly for laughs, rather than as the indecisive criminals they should be, which coupled with the murder itself, played out high above the rear of the set, robbed the crime of any true sense of drama or infamy. Elsewhere, when Richard is forced to 'play nice' with the young Princes he is planning to kill, Elston has him snarling in barely concealed rage; another mis-step out of keeping with Shakespeare's presentation of the character.

In short, a lifeless, painful and excruciatingly bad iteration of Richard III. Over all, I can honestly say that this was the single worst production of the Bard I have ever suffered through. I heartily recommend you avoid it at all costs.

Richard III Unhinged is playing at the Athenaeum Theatre until June 1st.

4 comments:

Bonnie Conquest said...

And where were you for Eurovision 2008?

richardwatts said...

At Bar Open. Where did you watch it?

Bonnie Conquest said...

Me n KP were at the Terminus in Abbotsford. Fun times! Go Russia.

Anonymous said...

I loved the show.