‘Looming the Memory –ΥΦΑΙΝΟΝΤΑΣ TH MNHMH’

           We go back 35 years to a small Greek village and find a little boy watching his family do their daily chores. An old woman is weaving monotonously and laboriously on a loom. Tearing up a deceased relative’s garment, she weaves it into the fabric of a mat – to retain the memories. This it certainly did, releasing the memories in tantalising episodes throughout this story.
          Thomas returns 30 years later to this town, in which he spent his first three years. He went to savour his root and discover the relatives left behind when his family left for Australia. Would they be as he remembered them? Would they welcome him open-armed? Would returning to Australia be another heartrending parting or could he be returning ‘home’? The play is filled with mystery, agape, hate, passion and interesting characters.

This is the original initiative that started the series of play based on various nationalities settling in a foreign land. Tom won the 2006 WA Equity Guild Best Actor Award and the play awarded the Blue Room Best Production Award in 2007. This sell-out show then toured extremely successfully.

After so many performances, my worry about seeing this wonderful show again, was, would all of the original production’s quality still be there? Originally directed by John Saunders, this restaged version directed by Alison van Reeken, has a new freshness. Thomas’ performance was packed with emotion. For once the poor acoustics of the Rechabites Hall have been conquered for this show, thus allowing justice to be done to the outstanding soundtrack (Gus Macmillan and Kingsley Reeve) of effects, music (Kate Connor and Gus) and village noises to heard clearly. Lucy Birkinshaw’s lighting was at its best for the demanding scene changes.

Although about a third of the script is in Greek, nothing is lost to the audience. Thomas’ clear intonations and expressions make the situations lucid. No matter what your country of origin, your family is in this play. There are characters that you will instantly recognise as your aunt or uncle.
If you could not get into this sell out show at the Blue Room a couple of years ago, then don’t miss it this time. Truly magnificent.