Written by Amy Herzog
Directed by Anthony
Skuse
A Critical Stages,
Catnip and Mophead production
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
to 13 February 2016
Review by Len Power
11 February 2016
Amy Herzog’s play, ‘4000 Miles’ comes to us with a number of prizes already. It was a finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize
for Drama, winner of the 2012 Obie Award for Best New American Play and named
Time Magazine‘s Number 1 Play or Musical of 2012.
A deceptively simple play about a young man turning up
unexpectedly to stay at his grandmother’s house in New York City after a coast-to-coast
bicycle trip, it seems at the start to be an amusing battle of the generations
comedy. The play takes its time showing
its true intent and it’s worth the wait as we see hidden pain surfacing in a
young man having difficulty facing life and an elderly woman needing
companionship but hiding behind a tough façade.
What stands out particularly in this production is the depth
of characterisation achieved by all four actors. Diana McLean gives a superb performance as
the grandmother – a fairly tough, occasionally funny old woman who has seen it
all but who offers a quiet compassion on her own terms. In a very believable performance, Stephen
Multari plays the grandson as a disarming young man not yet ready to take on
responsibility in his life and relationships and is hiding from a recent
traumatic event. Eloise Snape is particularly
impressive as the young man’s on and off again girlfriend, showing the doubts,
fears and needs of this young woman very well.
Aileen Hunyh is very funny but very real as a late night date that doesn’t
quite work out. She also plays the young
man’s sister in a very different small role that she invests with great warmth
and longing.
Also noteworthy were the very believable and different American
accents by the actors. Voice and dialect
coach, Linda Nicholls-Gidley, has done fine work with the cast on this aspect.
Director, Anthony Skuse, has brought together a quietly
impressive production. It is played at a
deliberate pace and is ultimately quite moving.
The set, originally designed by Gez Xavier Mansfield, made up of living
room furniture but no walls works very well giving an instant impression of this
old woman’s smallish New York apartment.
The lighting design, originally by Sara Swersky, with its glimmer of
light coming through windows and shining across the apartment’s floor gives a
nice atmosphere to the set. Original sound
design by Marty Jamieson adds another dimension to the show with a good choice
of mood music and subtle sound effects.
Associate lighting (Alexander Berlage), production (Hugh O’Connor) and
sound designers (Alistair Wallace) are credited in the program.
‘4000 Miles’ is an impressive drama that is entertaining as
well as thought-provoking.
Len Power’s reviews
can also be heard on Artsound FM’s ‘Artcetera’ program from 9am Saturdays.
