Picasso's Women

‘Picasso’s Women’ by Brian McAvera is presented by Blak Yak Theatre Inc. and has its last show on Saturday 16^th June at 8 pm in the Subiaco Studio.

This is a series of monologues by an Irish playwright, Brian McAvera, and they tell the story of Pablo Picasso as a husband and painter, from the wives’ aspect. Their trials and tribulations, his use of them as models and sex objects.

Monologues can be boring as hell, but this series of four 40-minute monologues are stunning. The stories that unwinds from the beautifully written scripts, are full of interesting facts from that era, they just grabs you. There are two monologues per show, and I saw the first night and unfortunately will miss the last pair starring Kirsten Berry and Sherryl Spencer.

Barry Carpenter’s set was simple, basically a draped picture frame, upon which various relevant art works by Picasso are projected as the tale unwinds.

Fernande (Melissa Merchant) was Picasso’s first wife. She was a sweet little thing, caged up in the studio, who gradually came to see how cruel and uncaring Pablo was. Melissa’s portrayal is most sensitive, bubbling with love and excitement as this young girl became part of Picasso’s life, and even after being cast aside, still really cared for him.

Then came Eva Gouel (Gemma Northover) a brassy, kinky, money-orientated, sickly wife who was searching for fame and recognition through his art. Gemma was fabulous as Eva, and her hard, slightly bitter recall is a complete contrast to the previous wife.

Both actors were totally absorbed in their parts, relating their experience with feeling and emotion. They recount their tales as tough telling a bit of gossip, subtly and with a matter-of-fact style. They drew the audience in with their perfect timing and restrained expressions. Brilliant performances. Superbly directed by Nick Donald and Melissa Merchant.

My heart went out to both performers who were working in the auditorium from hell. There were some yobs outside with a very loud phone / sort wave system (?) who were spoiling the silent pauses, and then an audience member fainted and fell down some steps – all within 40 minutes! Melissa stopped, composed herself, went into a semi trance and after a couple of minutes started with all the bubbly enthusiasm that had been there a few minutes before. A truly professional conquering of a disturbing situation.

A WONDERFUL show. I hear that there is a chance that the Blak Yak may do the whole series of 8 monologues at a later date. Something to which I am really looking forward.