Presented by five.point.one
Reviewed Fri 21st May 2010
http://www.fivepointone.com.au
http://www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/2010/share
Venue: The Bakehouse Theatre, 255 Angas Street, cnr. Cardwell Street, Adelaide
Season: To 5th June, see the Bakehouse web site at the link above for session dates and times
Duration: 55 min, no interval
Tickets: Adults $25/Conc $22/Fringe Benefits $20
Bookings: http://www.bakehousetheatre.com/shows/2010/share or for phone bookings call (08) 8227 0505. A booking fee of $2 per ticket is charged for phone bookings. Online bookings close 2 hours before the performance time.
Set design Cassandra Backler
Lighting design Ben Flett
Sound design and live music Luke Ashby
Somewhat Pinteresque, with overtones of Samuel Beckett, the play opens with a fair degree of comic dialogue between two old friends, Tex and Sugar. They live on the streets, are unemployed, broke, desperate, ill-educated and full of anger. They posture, argue, swear constantly and fight, but there is a dark humour in their interaction. Daniel Keene’s script soon changes, though, and the laughs quickly vanish with the introduction of the one-eyed character referred to only as ‘the kid’. At first he is only referred to, when he points the pair in the direction of a mark whom they can rob, assuring them of ample rewards for their efforts. He then appears and tells of his past encounters with the second of the intended victims, soon indicating his wish to join Tex and Sugar to make up a trio. His tales are not for the fainthearted and the play comes with a warning that some people may find it disturbing.
Director, Corey McMahon, has assembled a fine cast and crafted a strong piece of theatre that will not quickly be forgotten by those that see it. Cassandra Backler’s minimal set is lit in pools and patches by Ben Flett, together adding to the starkness of the production, and Luke Ashby’s guitar playing has a sinister feel that complements the performance well.
Scott Marcus is Tex, the more dominant of the pair, while Mathew Crook is Sugar. Together they build an initial level of edgy humour that slowly disintegrates as they gradually reveal the true nature of their characters. These two give powerful and convincing performances that lift to another level once the catalyst of the kid’s appearance disturbs their normal balance of power. Cameron Pike delivers another strong performance as the kid, frighteningly sincere is his telling of his first encounter with the second intended victim. When the three come together the level of violence increases dramatically, with tragic consequences.
A production well worth seeing but, if you are of a sensitive disposition, heed the warnings.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor Glam Adelaide.
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