In the Shade of the Pear tree

‘In the Shade of the Pear Tree’ written by Amelia Christo, is a Mick’s Theatre Collective production, showing nightly at 7.30 in the Blue Room, Northbridge until the 3^rd February. There are also Wednesday and weekend matinees at 2.00.

Amelia asks her Grandmother, Tsila – or Baba as the young Amelia called her - about her past in Macedonia and how she has changed by coming to Australia. Will the life of this matriarch raised in a loving environment in a strange and violent country have any similarities, or surprises, compared to that of the granddaughter?

In 2006 Thomas Papathanassiou won an award for his superb play, ‘Looming the memory’, about a Greek immigrant trying to seek out his family history and culture. Then in 2007 Michelle Robin Anderson’s ‘Lipstick and hessian’ gave a wonderful, lighter look at the Australian pre-war immigration of a Welsh girl. Both of these plays were extremely successful. Now we have yet another play on similar lines, my fear was, would it be capable of standing up to the outstanding quality of the others? I need not have worried.

Amelia was trained in music theatre at WAAPA, but has since proved herself as an all-rounder in professional theatre and TV. She has chosen a very simple ‘relating of the story’ approach, as though she was telling the tale, off-the-cuff, to a close friend for the very first time.

Although being WA written, and performed, the show started life at the Melbourne Fringe with full houses. Yet this beautiful young girl, with a twinkle in her eye, despite having already given several dozen performances, has a freshness and exuberance which is totally convincing as she changes flawlessly from the thick accent of Baba with her very hard life, to the modern day young Aussie girl. All the emotions are there, these being further heightened by short video clips of the grandparents.

Famous comedian, Andrea Powell, perhaps better known as her octogenarian character Ethel Chop, has directed this her third play with a beautiful natural atmosphere.

Designer Cara Kushlin has created a genuine 50’s kitchen whilst Tom Webster provided the lighting and visuals. The video shots of the grandparents were ‘informal’ and a bit rough, but fitted in with the style of the show. Unfortunately there was a distracting and annoying earth hum when a certain set of lights came on.

We were honoured on the first night to see Baba as she was invited onto the stage.

It is rare to see a show performed with so much love, coming direct from the heart.