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| Guy Edmonds in "The Witches" |
Presented by
the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
Gorman House
4 – 6th April
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
A program of
three works under the banner "An Idea Takes Flight" showcasing the accomplishments of three of the six graduates of the
2012 NIDA directing course, together with an exhibition of designs and costumes selected from their larger annual exhibition "Exponida", is currently being staged at Gorman
House by NIDA in an impressive demonstration of the standard of work currently being achieved by this
training organisation.
Part of the
enjoyment of this presentation is the clever way in which the ambience of
Gorman House itself has been exploited as an integral element of the experience, as
the audience moves between the two venues in which the productions are staged. Decorated with strings of white lights
encouraging visitors to the beautifully mounted exhibition, the courtyard provides a charming space for conversation between acts.
The first
play, “Play House”, by British playwright, Martin Crimp, and directed by Luke
Rogers, is presented in the CYT theatre.
In a series of apparently unconnected episodes a young couple go about setting up house. The audience are seated on both sides of the
sparse but effective setting, designed by Georgia Hopkins, which runs the full
length of the theatre, consisting mainly
of a sofa and refrigerator separated by a bed.
The dialogue is astringent, economical and absorbing and NIDA graduates
Sam O’Sullivan and Kate Skinner give fascinatingly nuanced performances. Of
particular interest is the polished use of costume, props and pauses by the
director and actors to create mood and tension, and the use of sound to
maintain this tension between scenes.
The audience
moved across to the QL2 theatre for the second presentation, a 40-minute
version of the American musical by Joe Dipietro and Jimmy Roberts, “I Love You,
You’re Perfect, Now Change” given a very slick and polished performance by the
cast of four, Nat Jobe, Simon Brook McLachlan, Cinzia Lee and Canberran, Amy
Louise Dunham, directed by another former Canberran and CAT Award winner, Derek
Walker, and accompanied by and excellent three piece ensemble. Again the clever use of a mobile set and projections,
designed by Chris Pitcairn, were a compelling demonstration of how much can be
achieved with limited resources.
Then it was
back to the CYT Theatre for the final offering of the night, a dazzling
performance of Roald Dahl’s “The Witches”.
Directed by Lucas Jervies, and given a frenetic, virtuoso performance by
Guy Edmonds, utilising little more than some kitchen utensils, a ball of string
and a few mechanical mice, to transport the willing audience into the wonderfully funny world of wicked witches.
“The
Witches” provided the perfect finale for a stimulating and entertaining evening
of excellent theatre making, which in turn provided a superb demonstration of
the quality and professionalism of the country’s premier theatre training
organisation. One would hope that this
Centenary Year visit, will be the first of many more such visits to the
National Capital by NIDA.