Review - On the Production of Monsters (MTC)

Just 4 plays into my theatre journey and I have to say I'm really enjoying this experience! As someone who has never experienced "the Arts" first hand before (watching Margaret and David really doesn't cut it anymore), I am starting to realise a few things: 1. That there are so many elements to a show that can differentiate it from the last one - obvious factors like script, direction and acting but also set design, lighting, music, and costume can all play a major role in the success (or failure) of the show for me. 2. My feelings and reactions to theatre (whether I liked it or not) seem to be much more heightened than TV or film. I guess a part of that has to do with the fact that I have invested a lot just to get to the theatre (money and the public transport system for starters), but maybe also because of the intimacy that theatre can provide? I'm still discovering and forming my thoughts about these concepts, but I'm loving the way theatre is starting to engage my mind and ask questions of myself. I would love to hear about your own thoughts and experiences on this topic so please feel free to contribute. On the Production of Monsters by Robert Reid is the latest offering from Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) who run a series of plays each month as part of their 2012 Lawler Studio Season. With tickets between $25 and $40 and the shorter running times, MTC are doing a good job of making theatre accessible to a wider audience. In the week leading up to Monsters I was able to watch a preview video and learn a little about the play. These are simple but welcome gestures and shows that theatre can be innovate off the stage too - which it must be if it is to attract more first time patrons. Starring Virginia Gay and James Saunders, On the Production of Monsters was an interesting look at the ramifications of a media scandal and the impact that whirlwind creates on the everyday citizen who gets caught in the rift. Ben and Shari are inner urban dwellers, and aren't afraid to show it. Ben whinges about his burnt coffee while Shari judges other passing hipsters. Their opening scene at a coffee shop was so on the money I cringed to think I might sound like an urban douche bag too. We are introduced to various characters throughout the 80 minutes as Gay and Saunders play all female and males roles respectively - a feat just in itself but one that worked; both actors were able to hold my attention for the entire play. The highlight for me was Gay's office manager - a butch, bogan speaking woman who manages to be inappropriate and humorous in equal measures with Gay nailing the accent and mood of this kind of Aussie passive aggressive HR nightmare rather well. I won't go into too much detail about plot as it's a short play but it basically follows the (mis)fortune of Ben and Shari when an interview with a local newspaper is turned into a national child abuse scandal. It's a modern, accurate take on the state of our media that not only shows how quickly things blow out of proportion, but how fast we all are to jump on the bandwagon - and how we are even faster to judge someone whether we are given any facts or not. The only criticism I have was the ending, which felt very abrupt. I felt like the message of the play had been delivered well but that Gay and Saunders had done such a good job at making me emotionally invested in the characters of Ben and Shari that I wanted to know what happens to them. In a weird way I wanted to know they were ok. But that's a criticism as much as a compliment to Gay and Saunders really. In the play they just become pawns, sucked in and spat out again, and there is never really any resolution for them. Of course this makes sense when you think about it - everyday people who get caught up in a media storm that, once it's run its course and is no longer front page news, are never heard of again. Also excelling in this play is set designer Andrew Bailey who has designed a set that blew my mind away with its simplicity and innovation. Who would have thought a rectangle box could hide so much stuff? Watching Gay and Saunders transform the set with a simple flip or pull of a board (at one point toast pops up out of the stage straight into the hands of the actors) not only reminded me why we spend half our lives in IKEA, but was really rather, well, cool. The musical interludes were marked by the funky tunes of composer Kelly Ryall who nails what it must sound like in the backing track of every Melbourne hipster. Visit http://theatrevirgin.blogspot.com.au/ for the latest Melbourne Theatre Reviews.