Curated by Mark
Gatiss
Co-directed by Steph
Roberts and Jarrad West
Everyman Theatre
The Courtyard, Canberra
Theatre Centre to 20 April
Reviewed by Len Power
5 April 2019
‘Queers’, a series of eight short monologues, was developed
for television in 2017 in response to the 50th anniversary of the passing of
the Sexual Offences Act 1967 in Britain which decriminalized homosexual acts in
private between two men aged 21 or over.
Curator, Mark Gatiss, wrote one of the monologues and
commissioned other contemporary writers for the others, creating an absorbing
account of changing gay experiences for a full century starting from 1917.
Everyman Theatre’s production includes seven of the eight
monologues. It’s a pity one had to be
left out but, with a running time of three hours for the show, it’s
understandable.
The Courtyard Studio in the Canberra Theatre Centre has been
attractively decorated as an English pub, The Prince’s Arms, with chairs and
tables and a bar where drinks can be purchased before and during the show. The performers are seated amongst the
audience, drawing us effectively into their stories. Sight lines and sound volume aren’t a problem
no matter where you sit as the performers move around the room while presenting
their monologues.
There’s a short break between each monologue and, adding
nicely to the pub atmosphere, singer, Louiza Blomfield, and pianist, Alex
Unikowski, as ‘The Beards’ expertly perform songs from the various eras to set
the mood. Blomfield changes costumes to
suit each period of the show.
 |
| Jess Waterhouse, Colin Giles, Pippin Carroll |
The performances by Alex Hoskison, Jess Waterhouse, Karina
Hudson, Chris Baldock, Cole Hilder, Pippin Carroll and Colin Giles are
excellent. There’s tremendous depth in
their vocal and physical acting resulting in very believable portraits of these
characters from the various time periods.
The directors’ concept for this production is superb. Steph Roberts and Jarrad West have produced
an entertaining, thoughtful, funny and moving show that works very well in the
cleverly atmospheric setting designed by West and Chris Zuber. Jennie Norberry’s costume designs nicely
reflect the time periods.
We’ve come to expect fine work from local company, Everyman
Theatre, and ‘Queers’ is right up there amongst their best.
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 6 April 2019.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.
