Construction of the Human Heart

‘Construction of the Human Heart’ is a multi-award winning play by Ross Mueller which is being presented by Gossips’ Feast Productions, in conjunction with The Blue Room and the Australian Opera Studio. It is showing on Saturday 28^th July at the Australian Opera Studio, a fabulous building in Midland (near the Town Hall). Then each evening at 8.00pm (Mondays at 6.00pm) until the 18^th August at The Blue Room in Northbridge – if the actors’ emotional balance lasts that long!

Romantic partners, who are also both playwrights, are placed in a very basic set with scripts in their hands, going through a moved reading. They, (Renée McIntosh and Andrew Hale), simply known as ‘Her’ and ‘Him’ are working their way through a pair of scripts. The central topic, the loss of a family member, is common to both drafts. They appear to be marrying the two versions together. Compromising and arguments ensue as to what the contents should be. As the story development continues, a voice over (Igor Sas) dictates the director’s notes and technical suggestions for the next scene.

Whilst the play progresses, they both become more distraught at what they are reading. Are they just superb writers intent on creating the best script ever? Honing it by acting out the characters, or is it actually a cathartic experience and are they truly tortured?

Another of Ross Mueller’ plays is ‘Ghost Writer’, this is also about an author and the death of a loved one. In ‘Ghost Writer’, whilst the script was sensitively written and each character beautifully portrayed, I felt that the true emotion between the characters wasn’t quite there. Here however the bonding is strong, loving, strained and at times comical. I much preferred this play.

This is the same team (possibly WA’s best) that last year gave us the outstanding ‘Oleanna’. They have excelled again. Renée and Andrew under the talented direction of Marcelle Schmitz give one of the most sensitive and heart-tearing experiences that I have seen for a while. Beautifully enhanced by Lucy Birkinshaw’s lighting.

Although more of a Moved Reading than a typical theatrical play, this is truly an emotional ride with which anyone who has lost a close family member will immediately connect. Fantastic.