Dust by Zac Gillam
Mon, 13 Dec 2004, 11:21 amWalter Plinge10 posts in thread
Dust by Zac Gillam
Mon, 13 Dec 2004, 11:21 amDust by Zac Gillam- at the Blue Room Wed-Sat this week.
Being familiar with Zac Gillams work from the 2002 comedy “The Phantum” I was warned that his newest theatrical offering “Dust” was something quite different.
Sure, Zac leaves the spoof genre for a futuristic family drama in which there are no singalongs or dance routines, but his characteristic wit and talent for social commentary carry this dystopic forecast of AustraliaÂ’s future.
From the plays outset the audience comes face to face with a world where water shortage is extreme, gas masks an essential item and society is highly monitored, from food consumption to reproductive practices.
While there are some inconsistencies in ZacÂ’s imagined future, the actors commit themselves totally to the obstacles this world provides; the leaking air vents, the drug culture and other consequences of societies disintegration.
What makes this production impressive is its comprehensive use of design and media. The set is solid, complete with vid-screen and working extractor fan (although the inclusion of a screen door in a world covered by dust was somewhat perplexing). The Blue RoomÂ’s intimate main stage is used effectively in creating the settings required by the script; from doctors office to brothel to drug den to school room.
Another innovative inclusion is the plays assortment of voiceovers, which punctuate the intense action with more mundane aspects of life in 2070 and give some indication of worlds prior destruction. Peter Holland and Steven Lee are (not surprisingly) fantastic news readers and Tilly OzdolayÂ’s Gary Cruise is 1080 6ix of the future!
Ashleigh Greig as usual delivers a high standard of work with his soundscape, which, coupled with Ichina SasamoriÂ’s emotive lighting design, adds sensitivity to some of the plays more poignant moments.
This is an engaging piece of theatre that responds effectively to the worldÂ’s current political climate. It also presents relationships that are not only believable in a futuristic Sydney setting; they could just as easily exist in the familiar surroundings of Perth 2004.
Disclaimer: Yes, I am closley associated with a number of people in this production, however I suspect that serves to make me more critical of their work.
Being familiar with Zac Gillams work from the 2002 comedy “The Phantum” I was warned that his newest theatrical offering “Dust” was something quite different.
Sure, Zac leaves the spoof genre for a futuristic family drama in which there are no singalongs or dance routines, but his characteristic wit and talent for social commentary carry this dystopic forecast of AustraliaÂ’s future.
From the plays outset the audience comes face to face with a world where water shortage is extreme, gas masks an essential item and society is highly monitored, from food consumption to reproductive practices.
While there are some inconsistencies in ZacÂ’s imagined future, the actors commit themselves totally to the obstacles this world provides; the leaking air vents, the drug culture and other consequences of societies disintegration.
What makes this production impressive is its comprehensive use of design and media. The set is solid, complete with vid-screen and working extractor fan (although the inclusion of a screen door in a world covered by dust was somewhat perplexing). The Blue RoomÂ’s intimate main stage is used effectively in creating the settings required by the script; from doctors office to brothel to drug den to school room.
Another innovative inclusion is the plays assortment of voiceovers, which punctuate the intense action with more mundane aspects of life in 2070 and give some indication of worlds prior destruction. Peter Holland and Steven Lee are (not surprisingly) fantastic news readers and Tilly OzdolayÂ’s Gary Cruise is 1080 6ix of the future!
Ashleigh Greig as usual delivers a high standard of work with his soundscape, which, coupled with Ichina SasamoriÂ’s emotive lighting design, adds sensitivity to some of the plays more poignant moments.
This is an engaging piece of theatre that responds effectively to the worldÂ’s current political climate. It also presents relationships that are not only believable in a futuristic Sydney setting; they could just as easily exist in the familiar surroundings of Perth 2004.
Disclaimer: Yes, I am closley associated with a number of people in this production, however I suspect that serves to make me more critical of their work.
Re: Dust....so Jesus Swept
Mon, 20 Dec 2004, 01:22 amGreg Ross wrote:
>
> An excellent review Juniper Berry, lessened by that peculiar
> “Uni student view” of the USA being the “Real Satan.”
>
> The war against terror is wrong? Jesus wept!
>
> Although not in any way excusing Bush, Blair and Howard,
> (and by the way, try saying that as Australia, Great Britain
> and the USA), for the disgusting tragedy that is Iraq, it
> really doesnÂ’t matter whether the terrorist is a Muslim
> fanatic, an IRA madman, a bullying Jew, a machete wielding
> African butcher, or a redneck Christian, the result is the
> same and our world would be a far better place, for their
> obliteration, in all their guises.
> Greg Ross
A 'peculiar uni student' view?? Isn't that a peculiar, sweeping, statement?
I don't read criticism of the US as the thrust of Juniper Berry's review at all, I rather understood that to be a view the play was pushing, which Juniper was taking an issue with - quite the opposite of what you imply, Greg.
The archetypal uni student view on war is represented to me by the image of my parent's generation protesting about Vietnam. They were a minority, but they were a huge movement worldwide that had profound social influence. While perhaps not popular at the time, today we look back at those protesters with an undisguised respect and pride.
I wonder if my children's generation will look back with any pride at the protestors about the war in Iraq? Will they even be able to point to any?
I find the view (regardless of whose it is) of the USA being the real Satan FAR less thoroughly terrifying than the USA Govt's own seeming viewpoint that they have the mandate of God.
Jesus wept? My understanding is that Jesus did in fact believe war on terror WAS wrong. He lived in a country under occupation, and managed to be extraordinarily political against the occupying Roman government AND against the overthrown Jewish government, without resorting to or promoting any kind of violence.
Whether or not you accept the religious doctrine, to use the paradigms of Jesus and Satan and then suggest that a war is the solution to obliterate all sinners seems confused, and perhaps hypocritical. Unless you believe in the God from above that does the deed for us in the form of a 40 day and night flood?
The Coalition of the Willing appears to want to achieve the same end in much the same way...so aren't they likening themselves to that God? Open the floodgates against all terror and sin!
The trouble with obliteration is that it is unavoidably violent. So regardless of the terrible burden you take upon yourself to fairly judge which fanatics, madmen, bullies, and rednecks qualify to be obliterated, as soon as you pronounce judgment upon them you join their team, and deserve their fate. The only solution is to call upon God to do it for you... or to act as though you are God.
But as for our world being a much better place? For a start, it would cease to be our world, as we've always defined it.
Perhaps the result could be described, in the words of Talking Head's David Byrne:
"Heaven is a place where nothing, nothing ever happens."
Cheers,
Craig
>
> An excellent review Juniper Berry, lessened by that peculiar
> “Uni student view” of the USA being the “Real Satan.”
>
> The war against terror is wrong? Jesus wept!
>
> Although not in any way excusing Bush, Blair and Howard,
> (and by the way, try saying that as Australia, Great Britain
> and the USA), for the disgusting tragedy that is Iraq, it
> really doesnÂ’t matter whether the terrorist is a Muslim
> fanatic, an IRA madman, a bullying Jew, a machete wielding
> African butcher, or a redneck Christian, the result is the
> same and our world would be a far better place, for their
> obliteration, in all their guises.
> Greg Ross
A 'peculiar uni student' view?? Isn't that a peculiar, sweeping, statement?
I don't read criticism of the US as the thrust of Juniper Berry's review at all, I rather understood that to be a view the play was pushing, which Juniper was taking an issue with - quite the opposite of what you imply, Greg.
The archetypal uni student view on war is represented to me by the image of my parent's generation protesting about Vietnam. They were a minority, but they were a huge movement worldwide that had profound social influence. While perhaps not popular at the time, today we look back at those protesters with an undisguised respect and pride.
I wonder if my children's generation will look back with any pride at the protestors about the war in Iraq? Will they even be able to point to any?
I find the view (regardless of whose it is) of the USA being the real Satan FAR less thoroughly terrifying than the USA Govt's own seeming viewpoint that they have the mandate of God.
Jesus wept? My understanding is that Jesus did in fact believe war on terror WAS wrong. He lived in a country under occupation, and managed to be extraordinarily political against the occupying Roman government AND against the overthrown Jewish government, without resorting to or promoting any kind of violence.
Whether or not you accept the religious doctrine, to use the paradigms of Jesus and Satan and then suggest that a war is the solution to obliterate all sinners seems confused, and perhaps hypocritical. Unless you believe in the God from above that does the deed for us in the form of a 40 day and night flood?
The Coalition of the Willing appears to want to achieve the same end in much the same way...so aren't they likening themselves to that God? Open the floodgates against all terror and sin!
The trouble with obliteration is that it is unavoidably violent. So regardless of the terrible burden you take upon yourself to fairly judge which fanatics, madmen, bullies, and rednecks qualify to be obliterated, as soon as you pronounce judgment upon them you join their team, and deserve their fate. The only solution is to call upon God to do it for you... or to act as though you are God.
But as for our world being a much better place? For a start, it would cease to be our world, as we've always defined it.
Perhaps the result could be described, in the words of Talking Head's David Byrne:
"Heaven is a place where nothing, nothing ever happens."
Cheers,
Craig
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