Summer of the Aliens
Mon, 13 May 2002, 12:01 pmLucy2 posts in thread
Summer of the Aliens
Mon, 13 May 2002, 12:01 pmI went to see this wonderful play at the Garrick Theatre on Saturday and although the first couple of minutes left me cold, which led to the dreadful feeling that I might have to sit through an awful play for the next couple of hours (plays with narrators generally have this effect on me), nevertheless, I was seduced into caring for these characters...even by shedding a few tears.
What a clever and insightful playwright Louis Nowra is. His understated dialogue was handled with care and given the skilful delivery it deserves, to the extent that I felt as if I was eavesdropping on the life-changing, tender and heartwrenching moments of the lives of the characters. The actor who plays the narrator was focused at all times and ebbed the feeling of nostalgia as he set the scene or commented on the events, but at no time did he ever take focus from other actors as he remained constantly engaged in the action on stage.
The program revealed that a few members of the cast have had very little experience but Terry Hackett's skilful attention made sure that the performances were balanced and the twenty-odd scenes were slick and quick, aided by the fact that the set was very basic and only props and slides were used to show the many locations. Therefore, the tech crew had to be on their toes, and indeed they were since I was unable to note any hiccups.
Congratulations Terry for a memorable evening and for displaying the courage to step out of the comfort zone of the theatrical conventions that many experienced directors are unable to shed. This stylised piece still evokes the emotions that many of your plays have been successful in achieving.
What a clever and insightful playwright Louis Nowra is. His understated dialogue was handled with care and given the skilful delivery it deserves, to the extent that I felt as if I was eavesdropping on the life-changing, tender and heartwrenching moments of the lives of the characters. The actor who plays the narrator was focused at all times and ebbed the feeling of nostalgia as he set the scene or commented on the events, but at no time did he ever take focus from other actors as he remained constantly engaged in the action on stage.
The program revealed that a few members of the cast have had very little experience but Terry Hackett's skilful attention made sure that the performances were balanced and the twenty-odd scenes were slick and quick, aided by the fact that the set was very basic and only props and slides were used to show the many locations. Therefore, the tech crew had to be on their toes, and indeed they were since I was unable to note any hiccups.
Congratulations Terry for a memorable evening and for displaying the courage to step out of the comfort zone of the theatrical conventions that many experienced directors are unable to shed. This stylised piece still evokes the emotions that many of your plays have been successful in achieving.
LucyMon, 13 May 2002, 12:01 pm
I went to see this wonderful play at the Garrick Theatre on Saturday and although the first couple of minutes left me cold, which led to the dreadful feeling that I might have to sit through an awful play for the next couple of hours (plays with narrators generally have this effect on me), nevertheless, I was seduced into caring for these characters...even by shedding a few tears.
What a clever and insightful playwright Louis Nowra is. His understated dialogue was handled with care and given the skilful delivery it deserves, to the extent that I felt as if I was eavesdropping on the life-changing, tender and heartwrenching moments of the lives of the characters. The actor who plays the narrator was focused at all times and ebbed the feeling of nostalgia as he set the scene or commented on the events, but at no time did he ever take focus from other actors as he remained constantly engaged in the action on stage.
The program revealed that a few members of the cast have had very little experience but Terry Hackett's skilful attention made sure that the performances were balanced and the twenty-odd scenes were slick and quick, aided by the fact that the set was very basic and only props and slides were used to show the many locations. Therefore, the tech crew had to be on their toes, and indeed they were since I was unable to note any hiccups.
Congratulations Terry for a memorable evening and for displaying the courage to step out of the comfort zone of the theatrical conventions that many experienced directors are unable to shed. This stylised piece still evokes the emotions that many of your plays have been successful in achieving.
What a clever and insightful playwright Louis Nowra is. His understated dialogue was handled with care and given the skilful delivery it deserves, to the extent that I felt as if I was eavesdropping on the life-changing, tender and heartwrenching moments of the lives of the characters. The actor who plays the narrator was focused at all times and ebbed the feeling of nostalgia as he set the scene or commented on the events, but at no time did he ever take focus from other actors as he remained constantly engaged in the action on stage.
The program revealed that a few members of the cast have had very little experience but Terry Hackett's skilful attention made sure that the performances were balanced and the twenty-odd scenes were slick and quick, aided by the fact that the set was very basic and only props and slides were used to show the many locations. Therefore, the tech crew had to be on their toes, and indeed they were since I was unable to note any hiccups.
Congratulations Terry for a memorable evening and for displaying the courage to step out of the comfort zone of the theatrical conventions that many experienced directors are unable to shed. This stylised piece still evokes the emotions that many of your plays have been successful in achieving.
Walter PlingeFri, 24 May 2002, 06:58 pm
Re: Summer of the Aliens
More a comment than a review. I saw 'Summer of the Aliens' on Thursday night and, like Lucy, thoroughly enjoyed it. It's great that amateur companies are putting on shows like this, which experiment with theatre convention.
I thought the alternative set worked extremely well indeed. Not only did it make for a change, but really helped the play ease through the 27-odd scene changes that make up the two acts.
With more traditional sets, everything is there, set out in front of you. The more realistic the better. In this play, the main stage was a camouflage wash, which, along with the occasional projected image on the back wall and the odd prop here and there, left the real set construction in the minds of the viewers. The power of suggestion is a mighty thing.
'Summer of the Aliens' really is an ensemble effort and congratulations to all.
Long live weird sets!!!
Ben Sorgiovanni
I thought the alternative set worked extremely well indeed. Not only did it make for a change, but really helped the play ease through the 27-odd scene changes that make up the two acts.
With more traditional sets, everything is there, set out in front of you. The more realistic the better. In this play, the main stage was a camouflage wash, which, along with the occasional projected image on the back wall and the odd prop here and there, left the real set construction in the minds of the viewers. The power of suggestion is a mighty thing.
'Summer of the Aliens' really is an ensemble effort and congratulations to all.
Long live weird sets!!!
Ben Sorgiovanni