Five Unenviable Lives - Five star Enviable comedy
Fri, 15 Apr 2005, 12:07 amcrgwllms1 post in thread
Five Unenviable Lives - Five star Enviable comedy
Fri, 15 Apr 2005, 12:07 amUnfortunate that no one yet has gotten around to reviewing this Blue Room show....only 2 nights left and I thoroughly recommend it.
Five short pieces written by Luke Milton as only he seems to know how; most of them mainly monologues; each dealing with a wacky, disturbed, uncertain, endearing character in a warped, distorted, surreal situation.
Hilarious. And poignant.
Ingrid Hartwig has a terrific monologue about being a cartoonist for an unfunny strip that no one takes seriously or even notices. The rest of the cast occasionally act out the cartoon bunny characters, as the audience is instructed to read along. Her character swings from painful shyness to reckless abandon to thoroughly moving heartbreak...and back again and again. Great story, really well presented. Oh, and sick and twisted.
Brent Hill continues the fluffy animal theme by giving us a monologue about being one... I've been known to play a few animals in my time, and I found his portrayal absolutely hilarious...jolly, cute, charming, and terrified. As the story becomes more disturbing you get drawn into this weird characters journey...at least it has a happy ending, I think.
Strangely, I had only seen on TV a few nights before a documentary style program about the goings on in airports, and there had been a passenger who turned up for no apparent reason dressed as a tiger. The airline staff got more and more uneasy about him, and he refused to give any reason except 'why not?'..... the truth is out there.
Sarah Fay tells a story of an attention seeking addict whose world spirals in on her. I didn't warm to this character as quickly as the previous two, although the performance was still engaging. The piece seemed the least 'loony' as it started off, and took a while to accelerate into the anticipated madness. It relied on an extended scene involving all the other actors to really kick it into gear, after which it was again painfully fascinating and funny.
After interval Sam Longley performs a slow paced, gentle monologue as an old man looking back on his past with a rather distorted perspective. This piece was perhaps the funniest for anyone involved as an actor or writer, and seemed to be the most personal of Luke's pieces. Sam restrained himself from any Hoo Haa tendencies toward bold lunatic physical comedy, and didn't rush a performance which was really quite touching. A bit reminiscent of Max Gilles' 'Sandy' character, he created a real warmth and humour with his audience, while remaining a sad, awkward, pitiable but likeable character. A lovely change of pace.
The last piece was a duet involving Ingrid's earlier character, now trying to come to terms with a failing relationship with her partner, played by Damon Lockwood (who appeared in most of the other stories as a series of wacky characters). The most 'realistic' of the pieces, we become a fly on the wall watching the painful process of a couple struggling to find out if they are brave enough to break up, or would they rather choose monotony over loneliness. The humor here is in the breakdown of communication, and what is said between the lines. It is black and disturbing, but funny because it's true. Once again, great & honest performances, and a slightly disturbing edge to end the night on, which in the context of the evening was highly appropriate.
Somehow you feel like you shouldn't be enjoying the humour in these shows, lest you reveal that you are a disturbed, broken, sick-minded individual yourself - I loved it. I'm at least consoled by the fact I didn't seem to be alone. The audience really responded well.
Kerry O'Sullivan has done a great job of directing these 5 stories so they feel unified and yet bear their own individual streaks. The monologues are always engaging, and are well supported by the accompanying action. The evening was well structured and presented simply and effectively.
Brent Hill also provided some appropriate music and a bitterly comic song; and once again the publicity artwork (Luke's) is interesting and stylish.
Did I say poignant? And hilarious? They're both good words.
Cheers,
Craig
Five short pieces written by Luke Milton as only he seems to know how; most of them mainly monologues; each dealing with a wacky, disturbed, uncertain, endearing character in a warped, distorted, surreal situation.
Hilarious. And poignant.
Ingrid Hartwig has a terrific monologue about being a cartoonist for an unfunny strip that no one takes seriously or even notices. The rest of the cast occasionally act out the cartoon bunny characters, as the audience is instructed to read along. Her character swings from painful shyness to reckless abandon to thoroughly moving heartbreak...and back again and again. Great story, really well presented. Oh, and sick and twisted.
Brent Hill continues the fluffy animal theme by giving us a monologue about being one... I've been known to play a few animals in my time, and I found his portrayal absolutely hilarious...jolly, cute, charming, and terrified. As the story becomes more disturbing you get drawn into this weird characters journey...at least it has a happy ending, I think.
Strangely, I had only seen on TV a few nights before a documentary style program about the goings on in airports, and there had been a passenger who turned up for no apparent reason dressed as a tiger. The airline staff got more and more uneasy about him, and he refused to give any reason except 'why not?'..... the truth is out there.
Sarah Fay tells a story of an attention seeking addict whose world spirals in on her. I didn't warm to this character as quickly as the previous two, although the performance was still engaging. The piece seemed the least 'loony' as it started off, and took a while to accelerate into the anticipated madness. It relied on an extended scene involving all the other actors to really kick it into gear, after which it was again painfully fascinating and funny.
After interval Sam Longley performs a slow paced, gentle monologue as an old man looking back on his past with a rather distorted perspective. This piece was perhaps the funniest for anyone involved as an actor or writer, and seemed to be the most personal of Luke's pieces. Sam restrained himself from any Hoo Haa tendencies toward bold lunatic physical comedy, and didn't rush a performance which was really quite touching. A bit reminiscent of Max Gilles' 'Sandy' character, he created a real warmth and humour with his audience, while remaining a sad, awkward, pitiable but likeable character. A lovely change of pace.
The last piece was a duet involving Ingrid's earlier character, now trying to come to terms with a failing relationship with her partner, played by Damon Lockwood (who appeared in most of the other stories as a series of wacky characters). The most 'realistic' of the pieces, we become a fly on the wall watching the painful process of a couple struggling to find out if they are brave enough to break up, or would they rather choose monotony over loneliness. The humor here is in the breakdown of communication, and what is said between the lines. It is black and disturbing, but funny because it's true. Once again, great & honest performances, and a slightly disturbing edge to end the night on, which in the context of the evening was highly appropriate.
Somehow you feel like you shouldn't be enjoying the humour in these shows, lest you reveal that you are a disturbed, broken, sick-minded individual yourself - I loved it. I'm at least consoled by the fact I didn't seem to be alone. The audience really responded well.
Kerry O'Sullivan has done a great job of directing these 5 stories so they feel unified and yet bear their own individual streaks. The monologues are always engaging, and are well supported by the accompanying action. The evening was well structured and presented simply and effectively.
Brent Hill also provided some appropriate music and a bitterly comic song; and once again the publicity artwork (Luke's) is interesting and stylish.
Did I say poignant? And hilarious? They're both good words.
Cheers,
Craig