“No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre. Directed by Briony Dunn/Fiona Green. Cat & Fiddle till 25 june

“No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre. The Crypt Theatre, Cat and Fiddle Hotel, Balmain to 25th June 2006 Reviewed by Keith McIlroy. 2nd June 2006 Given the quality of both the production team and the cast it is not surprising that this is an excellent production. NIDA graduate director Briony Dunn has teamed up again with Fiona Green to co direct and produce this entertaining, fast paced and, of course, thought-provoking piece. Three souls are led one by one into a small, square, almost empty room by Hell’s bell boy, played by recent Theatre Nepean graduate, Dan Jamieson. Designed and lit by NIDA graduates, Miranda Heckenberg and Chris Twyman, this white, bright room has no windows, a stopped clock and no way out. And no mirrors, for these three have to see themselves through the eyes of their companions for eternity. Hell is, indeed, ‘other people’. Garcin is the first soul to be led in. A journalist who claims he has been shot for being a pacifist and played by NIDA actor and director, Steve Rassios. ‘The Journey’ graduate, Kaitlyn Cox soon joins him as Inez - a lesbian who has died in a gas accident. Finally NIDA graduate Trilby Estelle joins them as Estelle who has died from pneumonia. What follows is an engrossing performance as the three protagonists attempt to protect their own self images while, at the same time, attempting to break down their companions’ barriers. Further tormented with brief views of life continuing in their mortal worlds, their inner souls are exposed and their incompatibility starkly revealed. An incompatibility that they will have to share for eternity. This is an accomplished production, tightly directed and well acted by the cast. In particular, Steve Rassios’ performance is totally credible as Garcin and Dan Jamieson’s ability to maintain a blink free stare for minutes on end quite remarkable – see if you can catch him out when you go to see this play – which you must do. If there is one criticism it is that, though it often makes you laugh, it fails to make you cry. There was great sadness in their stories but we were not allowed onto that particular part of the emotional roller coaster.