Fragmented **** 1/2

‘Fragmented’ by Suzanne Ingelbrecht is presented at the Blue Room in Northbridge, by Fragmented Artists, Make Time to Talk and The Blue Room until the 23^rd February.

This is the pathetic story of Ivan, a Croatian war survivor, who has landed as a refugee in Australia. As soon as he arrives in this country, flashbacks of the trauma that he has undergone and the huge loss of family, friends and possessions become impossible for him to deal with. He is taken to a hospital and with the help of the doctor starts to work through his problems.

The basic story is simple, but numerous events are skilfully interwoven and the dialogue rings true. With the intimate knowledge of her topic, Suzanne has produced a masterpiece that will resurrect every few years for decades to come.

When I discovered that the play was about a sick refugee, I must admit my enthusiasm faded, however this hour and a half play was riveting. A great deal of praise must be given to Igor Sas who played Ivan faultlessly. He not only played him but WAS him, his every action and expression came from the soul. The two excellent supporting actors, Shaun Martindale and Benj D’Addario blended in beautifully. Vivienne Glance skilfully directed the show.

Had Suzanne, Vivienne and Igor not been so acute in their observation of the subject and so highly talented, this play could easily have been a disaster. Not once did one feel like saying ‘Get a grip of yourself’, instead there was silence in the auditorium as the audience really felt for this pathetic man’s suffering.

The well-earned applause at the end was the most enthusiastic and prolonged that I think I have seen in the Blue Room for a long time. Strongly recommended. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL.

I was fortunate to have taken a group of drama students to see this impressive production. A great script, skilful direction and a stadndout performance by Igor Sas had me spellbound from the start. It really is a luxury to be able to witness such extaordinary acting talent in the intimate confines of the "Blue Room" theatre. Well Done to one and all. A show not to be missed!!!

The West Australian Fri Feb 16th 2007 FRAGMENTS OF THE PAST HAUNT THE PRESENT Jon Duffy Real-life horror stores and dramatic interpretations come together in Fragmented. Set in a psychiatric ward, Fragmented follows Croatian war veteran Ivan Radicevic (Igor Sas) as his mind swings between the past and the present - his growth from innocence to guilt, his flight from ethnic cleansing to the safety of the West and his futile attempts to piece his mind back together. His fellow travellers are psychiatrist Jim Hall (Benj D'Addario) and a humane nurse Shane (Shaun Martindale). But the cultural gap and Ivan's inability to share his experience limit the chances of success. Directed by Vivienne Glance, Sas is brilliant as the tortured Ivan, striking the right note of bleak humour and wry observation with a masterly portrayal of a shattered psyche that at one point has him writing to the UN Secretary-General in a bid to have bugs (imaginary) removed from his environs. Martindale, who plays five of the seven roles, is seamless in his character changes. And D'Addario is perfectly cast as Hall, the doctor who refuses to give up on Ivan. The dramatic climax of this 75-minute one-act play, where Ivan confronts his past and his part in its tragedy, seemed a little contrived - though the media plays it's part in reporting the atrocities in war zones, it all seems far away from sunny WA. Before the performances there was a discussion with two young men who experienced the genocide in Rwanda and the Congo and the terrors of war in the former Yugoslavia. Their restrained accounts of childhoods which included stepping over dead bodies in refugee camps and fleeing murderous soldiers gave an immediacy and realism to Fragmented's subject matter. They also foreshadowed the play's message that redemption is possible if there is a willingness to break through the mire of the past and reach out to the promise of friendship and understanding in the future. Fragmented runs until March 24th

Please note FRAGMENTED runs until FEB 24th at the Blue Room Theatre, not MARCH 24th as stated in The West Australian review. Cheers!