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| Arran McKenna, Jenna Roberts, Lainie Hart and Jim Adamik |
Written by Jasmina Reza
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Jordan Best
Echo Theatre production
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan to 31 August
Reviewed by Len Power 29 August 2025
Two couples meet to discuss a playground fight in which
their eleven year old boys were involved. The incident was serious enough for one
of the boys to have had teeth broken. The meeting starts nicely with both sets
of adults prepared to discuss and resolve the matter reasonably. However, their
discussion soon deteriorates into an extraordinary battle full of rage and
recriminations as each person’s beliefs, fears, jealousies and judgments clash
with everybody else’s.
From the comfortable position of audience member, it’s very funny to observe these people as they battle furiously, but how sure are we that we wouldn’t react in a similar manner given the right circumstances? It’s an unsettling thought.
Jasmina Reza’s 2008 French play, translated into English by Christopher Hampton, has the setting changed to Canberra for this production. Director, Jordan Best has given the show a stylish set design of a square living room that, as the play progresses, virtually becomes a boxing ring.
Jim Adamik is a self-centred lawyer who quickly shows his aggressive and sadistic side. Always on his mobile phone, his conversations give us an uncomfortable insight into the type of man he is. Lainie Hart plays his downtrodden wife who is struggling to contain her own frustrations.
Both performers memorably played these roles in a 2022 production and have found impressive new depths in their characterizations.
New cast members for this production, Arran McKenna and Jenna Roberts, both well-known performers in Canberra, prove to be strong matches for the other couple. He is smarmy and passively resistant while she displays a reasonableness that is anything but reasonable.
Given four deeply flawed characters to play, the skill and energy of these four performers as they change from humans to animals is breathtaking.
Director, Jordan Best, has ensured that the frenzied movement in this confined setting remains naturalistic and that all elements of the production are finely tuned.
If you missed this play in 2022, don’t make the same mistake this time.
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.
