The Stones

WHAT: The Stones
WHEN: Thursday, February 12, 2004
WHERE: The Studio, Subiaco Theatre Centre (WA)

This is not a production that is readily accessible to the general public. Barking Gecko's "The Stones" is currently geared towards school performances. I missed it at the Fringe Festival last year, so was very fortunate to see an evening dress rehearsal before it commenced its current daytime circuit (during which I must retire to my resting place lined with the soil of my homeland).

Knowing nothing about the production beforehand I foolishly guessed it was a parody/tribute/allegory about a rock group's rise to megastardom. It's amazing how preconceived notions can evaporate in the wink of an eye with the downbeat delivery of five simple words: "This is a true story."

Immediately before the performance we were told, very matter-of-fact, and with no hoohah or hyperbole, that we were about to witness a true story. We then met two youngsters stuffing around on the streets after dark. They tried to break into a garage, played with a can of petrol and a lighter, chased someone's pet, threw stones into a local lake, then took some of those stones to a freeway overpass. . . .

As I understand it, in 1994 two Melbourne teenagers were tried for manslaughter. They had been throwing stones from a freeway overpass, killing a motorist.

Craig Williams and Sam Longley portrayed these two teenage friends - little more than boys - cursed with the macho disease of not looking like a coward when your mate dares you to do something stupid. We tut-tutted when they tried to vandalise a car, cringed as they splashed petrol around, but sat in mute horror as the need to outdo and outdare each other led to throwing rocks at vehicles from the freeway overpass.

Craig Williams and Sam Longley also portrayed the two police officers investigating the case. The transformations were amazing. Literally in a split-second, Craig and Sam transformed from teenage boys to veteran cops (and back again). Subtle costume alterations coupled with changes in body language, delivery and demeanour effected an utterly convincing transformation. It was almost as if there were four actors in the production.

The stage was essentially bare, except for one strikingly effective prop. I've never seen a ladder used in so many different (and heart-stopping) ways. Maybe I should get out more.

There's a slim chance Craig might be reading this - he has been known to occasionally visit this page. If so, I'm sure he'd be saying, "Forget the praise, what was wrong with the show? What could be improved upon?" Hardly anything - I loved every minute of it. However one thing that caught me off guard was the age of boys. I was shocked when we were told they were in their early teens. I initially believed them to be a couple of yobbos in their early 20s with nothing better to do than sneak around warehouses at night.

Regardless, this was a powerful, energetic production which unashamedly manipulated our emotions. We initially felt disdain for these hoons as they prowled the streets at night, laughed at their foolishness, then cringed at their stupidity. However, as they realised what they'd done and found events spiralling out of their control, we began to sympathise and even feel pity for these two very young boys. All the while remembering, "This is a true story."

I'm not sure how one would get to see this production – perhaps contact Barking Gecko. But if you have the opportunity to do so, I recommend you take it. If one kid - just one - considers the consequences of his actions before doing something stupid, simply as a result of seeing this play, then every performance will have been worth it. But I somehow think it will affect more than just one kid. . . .

JB