Presented by: Stirling Players
Reviewed: 19 March, 2023
The characters of Andrew Bovell’s Speaking in Tongues manoeuvre their interpersonal relationships with all the care of someone fighting through a tangled mess of weeds, and Stirling Players have taken the trials and lies these 9 complex individuals bring on themselves in a successful adaptation of one of Australia’s more famous plays.
Director Geoff Brittain takes a difficult script and guides the audience through multiple interconnected scenes with overlapping characters and dialogue, in a way that minimises audience confusion and heightens dramatic tension. His use of the projected backdrop over sheer fabric deserves special praise, physically cutting characters off from those who are meant to love and care for them, an oblique but very effective decision.
The four actors each shine in their respective roles, each given plenty to work with. As a true ensemble piece, no one actor shines above the rest but each deserve praise for the sections in which they command the stage space all their own. Tim Williams delivers an incredible turn as the accused Nick, whilst Gary George’s strong dialect work anchors his performance in Act 2. Nicole Rutty has arguably the hardest role of all, transitioning from quite a hard nosed first Act into a flighty and manipulative Act 2 – a transition she weathers with ease. But both acts are anchored by powerful performances by Georgia Stockham, driving the finale of Act 1 as the anxious housewife, and being equal parts pitiable and terrifying throughout her turn in Act 2.
The technical aspects of the show could be described as simple, lighting designer Richard Parkhill does an admirable job separating scenes and guiding audience attention when multiple scenes are happening at once, and Eleni Taylors Set and Projection design is simple; a few pieces for each scene, signifying a change in location, but always effective.
Transitions between scenes often took awhile, and left the audience waiting as minor set changes were made, and whilst it was effective for showing the ways scenes can play out differently and yet the same, Bovell’s choice to have multiple lines of dialogue overlap with multiple people at the same time forced actors to make acting choices to fit with another’s vocal cadence; something that made these lines sometimes feel wooden.
Speaking in Tongues is an outright success for Stirling Players; a difficult choice to open a season, but a clear representation of the kind of performance they want to show the Hill’s community – high quality, in every aspect.
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
Venue: Stirling Community Theatre
Season: Until 1 April, 2023
Tickets: From $22
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=1017461&
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