Written by Stephen
Sachs
Directed by Lucy Freeman
Tasmania Theatre
Company and Straightjacket Productions in association with Karralyka
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
to 24 June
Reviewed by Len Power
22 June 2017
‘No-one would fake a Jackson Pollock. Why would anyone else paint shit like that?’
Stephen Sachs’ play, ‘Bakersfield Mist’ has some memorably
funny lines and equally memorable characters in art expert, Lionel Percy - played
by John Wood - and trailer park resident, Maude Gutman – played by Julie
Nihill.
Maude is a down on her luck trailer park resident in Bakersfield,
California who has found a painting in a pile of junk that just might be an
original Jackson Pollock. When renowned
art expert, Lionel, visits to check the authenticity of the painting, their
very different worlds and personalities clash strongly.
Both performers present very detailed and realistic characters. John Wood is impressively pompous as the art
expert who is sad and vulnerable under the surface. Julie Nihill is wonderfully alive and
abrasive as the bitter woman beaten up by life and stuck in a trailer park.
Writer, Stephen Sachs, explores the differences between
people from contrasting worlds as well as showing how an obsession can impact
negatively on a person’s life. He also
points out the difficulties involved in the art world where greed and forgery
go hand in hand with idealism and beauty.
It’s a good play but the script does wander into subplots that seem
redundant, especially towards the end.
The set designed by Jill Munro is impressive in its detail
and direction by Lucy Freeman is tight and moves at a good pace.
This is a play that covers very interesting issues about
life and art and the performances of the two cast members make it a very entertaining
night in the theatre.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7’s ‘Artcetera’ program (9am Saturdays)
and other selected programs on Artsound.