Adapted from Patrick
White’s short story ‘Down At The Dump’
Directed by Chris
Drummond
Far And Away Productions
and Brink Productions
The Playhouse,
Canberra Theatre Centre to 5 May
Reviewed by Len Power
1 May 2018
‘Death isn’t death unless it’s the death of love’, says one character
towards the end of ‘The Aspirations Of Daise Morrow’. The poetic sensibility of this adaptation
remains true to the spirit of the work of Patrick White and weaves a magical
spell around the audience in a cleverly immersive production.
Based on ‘Down At The Dump’, one of Patrick White’s short
stories from his collection, ‘The Burnt Ones’, published in 1964, the play
focusses on a group of characters from White’s often-used fictional suburb of
Sarsparilla. The funeral of Daise Morrow
is taking place while scrap dealers, the Whalleys, plan a day out at the
Sarsparilla dump beside the cemetery to avoid attending the funeral. In conversations and reminiscences we learn
about the life of Daise Morrow and the other characters and observe how life
has its own ironic way of bringing people together and having history repeat itself.
This startling production, played without interval, requires
the entire audience to sit onstage in a radiating, circular seating pattern at
the Playhouse. The auditorium seats are
not used at all. The stage floor is
covered with real turf which feels soft and lush underfoot and the pleasant
grassy aroma creates an instant and appropriate atmosphere for the play.
The cast of four play multiple characters, jumping back and
forth in time. Much of the play is
spoken in the third person. It feels
like someone is reading a novel to you and the actors are part of your
imagination as they perform closely around and behind you. Adding to the atmosphere, four string musicians
are also placed amongst the audience and play romantic and wistful original music
to underscore the action.
 |
| Paul Blackwell and Genevieve Picot |
The cast - Geneviéve Picot, Paul Blackman, Lucy Lehmann and
James Smith – give strong performances of great depth and clarity, making these
character types instantly recognizable and believable. The Zephyr Quartet, led by musical director,
Hilary Kleinig, have composed an attractive and emotive musical score for the
production.
 |
| James Smith and Lucy Lehmann |
Michael Hankin’s set design is adventurous and very
effective as are his costume designs for both cast and musicians. Nigel Levings’ lighting design to suit this
unusual production is an outstanding achievement.
Director, Chris Drummond, has produced a show that is
different, exciting and memorable. It’s
demanding and you have to concentrate, but it’s a highly involving and ultimately
memorable theatrical experience.
Photos by David James McCarthy
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.
