Presented by Lost in Translation
Reviewed 10 March 2017
This play written by Stephen Adly Guirgis was nominated in the Tonys in 2011 and that is how it attracted the attention of Nick Fagin, the driving force behind Lost in Translation. With his co director Matt Houston, Fagin has brought this play to the Adelaide Fringe.
The production focuses on the relationship of a New York couple, Veronica (Ronnie) and Jackie. Jackie is fresh out of jail and thinks the world is against him. We get the measure of Veronica, played by Rosie Williams, in the opening scene where she is having a phone argument with her mother. Fagin plays Jackie and is great as the character fits him like a glove. Williams strong accent, whilst good sometimes makes her hard to follow and her characterisation lacks a little depth.
The dialogue is ripe with profanities, quick fire jokes and strong insights; all the characters except one are masking their true selves. Patrick Gibson (Ralph the AA sponsor) comes on as a highly moral, clean living, decent human but ends up being an adulterous flake. Gibson carries the part well, as does Lana Adamuszek as his wife Victoria. Adamunszek gives a strong performance, well controlled.
The one character who is what he seems is Cousin Julio, a part which gives David Salter a chance to play every minority at once! His Puerto Rican accent adds to the humour and is well maintained. Salter has always known how to play it for laughs and this production gives him the chance (suitably enabled by his fellow cast members) to go to town!
This production would have done better in a more intimate venue where the sound wasn’t lost and where the stage is viewable from all seats; the stage needs to be higher if the seating is not raised. Apart from that the venue was nice, just not suited to this style of production.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Twitter: @franeds
Rating out of 5: 4.5
Venue: William Magarey Room, Live at Five at the Adelaide Oval
Season: 10-11 Mar
Duration: 90 mins
Tickets: $23 Conc $25 Adult
Bookings: https://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-motherf-ker-with-the-hat
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