Monday, April 8, 2019

QUEERS


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.