Written By Maura Pierlot
Directed by Shelly
Higgs
The Street Theatre
production
The Street Theatre to
27 October 2019
Reviewed by Len Power
24 October 2019
Featuring in the Mental Health Month ACT program, ‘Fragments’
by Canberra -based playwright, Maura Pierlot, is a powerful set of stories
about young people struggling with emotional, social, physical and mental
issues during their teenage years. Eight
inter-connected monologues give us a deep insight into the personal lives of
these people. It’s disturbing, revealing
and ultimately quite moving.
On a deceptively simple but imaginative setting by Imogen
Keen, the cast of eight young actors are first seen in their social personas,
interacting with each other cheerfully and confidently. All seems well until each individual steps
forward and opens up with the darker truth about themselves as they see
it. Ranging from a not unexpected
teenage angst to hints of mental illness, there is a wide gulf between their
personal view of themselves and how they perceive they are seen by their
peers. Loneliness, isolation, prejudice,
attractiveness, social and parental expectations, technology and social media
all impact on these people’s sense of self-worth.
These are teenagers of today with all of the current influences
around them but older people can still relate to their feelings. Underneath it all are issues that don’t seem
to have changed over generations. It’s
clear from this play that we are still not dealing with it all very well and it’s
not surprising that mental health issues continue to surface. This perceptive work has been written with
clarity and understanding by Maura Pierlot.
The words often have a poetic quality but never stray from reality.
 |
| Prithvi Saxena as Vijay |
The performances by the cast of eight actors are uniformly
excellent. They are Tom Bryson, Marni
Mount, Prithvi Saxena, Erin Pierlot, Linda Chen, Damon Baudin, Zane Menegazzo
and Holly Johnson. The depth of
character work by these actors is outstanding and their monologues are
presented with skill and confidence.
 |
| Marni Mount as Freya |
Director, Shelly Higgs, has done excellent work with her
cast and her imaginative concept for the production works very well.
The sound design by Kyle Sheedy was especially notable,
creating a superb soundscape throughout the show. Lighting design by James Tighe was similarly
complex and atmospheric and very well operated during the performance by
William Malam.
‘Fragments’ is fine theatre as well as compelling social
comment.
Photos by Creswick Collective
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.
