West Reviews 'The Myth of Julian Rose'

Rarely do you get to see a show of this calibre, be it co-op, am-dram or pro. In fact, these finicky delineations simply don't matter; The Myth Of Julian Rose (written by Daniel Kershaw and produced by Mondo Di Corpo Theatre Productions) is simply a brilliant production of an excellent play. From the assured performances of the cast- all four are excellent, but surely James Helm's Julian and Sarah Nelson's Grace/Minotaur will resonate in the memory for a long time. Jo Morris as Isabella is put throught the emotional and physical wringer, and is triumphant from her very first scene. To the "simple" language that retells an ancient myth in a modern context- Kershaw's engaging script rings true through each scene as we watch Julian slowly unravel, leaving his fiancee to assemble the jigsaw of her love's life. All under the watching eye of "The Prescence"... Nothing in this show is forced or contrived, yet the firm grasp that director Marisa Garreffa so obviously has of this script is abundantly clear in each minute of the play. A lesser director would lose the thread of this story (excuse the hideous mythological pun/reference), and only a director of her undoubted quality would be brave enough to leave enough ambiguity for the audience to reach their own conclusions. VERY rarely have I watched a show that so perfectly marries its teechnical elements to the telling of its story. Tristen Parr's cello performance does indeed become a character of its own. The production design in total overcomes the shortcomings of the venue's dimension with aplomb, and indeed turns a possible impediment to its advantage. Enough waxing enthusiastic; this is MUST-SEE theatre. Even if for no other reason than to watch a young Perth-based company get it so totally right. Kudos to all concerned. Eliot McCann