Dirty pretty nails

‘Dirty Pretty Nails’ is another World Premier. It is by Andy Harmsen, his fifth play all of which have been a tad unusual but very interesting. This drama by D Production is being performed at the Blue Room Studio, Northbridge each evening at the late slot of 9.00 pm until 15^th December.

In a meagre apartment, a man (Daniel Gillett) is lying in his bath, fully clothed and listening to a classical music station on his poorly tuned in radio. As he climbs out of the bath we become aware that he is paraplegic. A young carer / nurse (Kelly Paterniti) arrives to help him dress and to offer companionship, however, this handsome man who has been cut down at his prime, understandably has several chips on his shoulders. Most of all he misses his regular sex life. Now, alone with no visitors, the only way (well there was one other ‘in your face’ way) that he can get some sexual arousal is to talk dirty to this teenage carer.

The girl has looked after a sick relative day and night for many years, and so has had few experiences with men of her own age. She is a delicate, finely built young woman, but she can certainly give as good as she gets! Will this rocky relationship develop into a love affair?

I have seen three or four plays by Andy Harmsen and all are in a style similar to Edward Albee; there is always a dark relationship. This was no exception; the couple’s love hate relationship was akin to that of Martha and George in ‘Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf’.

The audience left the theatre drained after the 65 minutes of unrelenting, powerfully written script. Some sort of light-hearted break midway would have been not only a relief, but allowed the audience to refocus.

The acting was excellent, with Daniel giving a most convincing performance as the disabled man. Kelly was a winner of Storm the Stage in 2005.

Did I enjoy it? Not quite the correct expression to use, but I was entranced and it held me for the full stretch, thanks to the energy of the couple. This is a play that you will either love of hate.

Congratulations. You have single-handedly managed to destroy the fine reputation of this forum, a place for serious reviews, with a poorly worded and pitifully spiteful comment. I don't know whether you've got a chip on your shoulder toward Gordon, the playwright, or the performers, but you don't need to express it here. This forum is a place for constructive criticism. Your comment not only defies the conventions of this forum, it attempts to mock Gordon's review as well. Take a look at the posts in the rest of this forum- Gordon the Optom is one of the most prolific users of this site, and a great supporter of WA theatre. Whether you agree with his review or not, you've no right to disrespect him for his opinion. I imagine that you are one of those people who is more interested in mixing with people after the show than actually seeing theatre. You sit around, gauge the "general consensus" and try to think of something funny to say. The anonymity provided by internet forums is the perfect way for cowards like yourself to express just how desperate for attention you are. Did you sit through the show? And if it was that bad, why? If you want to attack it, then do so in detail- have the courage to back what you say with something constructive. You may find that the writer and performers in the show appreciate criticism. It's likely they will take criticism with maturity and dignity- which is more than anyone who reads your comment can say about you.

A response to blue room goer

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