Presented by Stella Den Haag, Come Out and the Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed Saturday 26th March 2011
http://www.comeout.on.net/program/vuil-kind-vile-child
Venue: The Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: ended.
Duration: 80mins
Lieve is the daughter of a barge master who has separated from her mother and sold his boat. She is now taken care of by her best friend, Jessica, and Jessica’s mobile telephone addicted Aunt Odila. She is led to believe that Peter Jay, one of twin brothers, is in love with her. It is just a joke played on her by Peter Jay and Jessica, who are a couple, unbeknownst to Lieve. The other brother, Robbie hates being a twin. Living nearby is a violinist to whom Lieve listens, until one day she stops playing. Lieve’s anger consumes her and she lashes out at those around her.
Written by Hans van den Boom and directed by Erna van den Berg, with simple staging and very effective lighting by Reier Pos, this is a powerful and moving piece marked not only by superb performances from Erna van den Berg, Floor van Berkestijn, Dion Vincken, Matthias Quadekker, Victoria Osborn and Tessa Zoutendijk but also by the fact that they are also the orchestra and singers, with some pre-recorded music as well.
Floor van Berkestijn gives an outstanding performance as Lieve but the other five also deliver excellent performances, as well as being talented musicians and singers. With only a couple of chairs and a long, wooden jetty inclined down the stage, the performance relies on superb acting, and there is plenty of that. From a gentle beginning the piece builds, gradually adding layers of complexity and emotional intensity, then slowly resolves to end on the same simple tune on solo piano with which it began.
This is a remarkable piece that deserved more evening performances as it offered as much for adult audiences as for younger ones.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor, Glam Adelaide.
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