The Seed
Fri, 5 June 2009, 08:23 amGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The Seed
Fri, 5 June 2009, 08:23 am‘The Seed’ is adapted from the book by Geraldton playwright, and actor, Kate Mulvany. It won the Naked Theatre Company’s ‘Write Now!’ competition and a Philip Parsons Young Playwright’s Award. The play, recently, won the best independent production prize at the Sydney Theatre Awards.
At Heathrow Airport, Danny (Pip Miller) and his 30-year-old journalist daughter, Rose (Kate Mulvany) have just arrived off a 22-hour flight from their home in WA. Danny is less than impressed by the change in the UK since his last visit. For Rose it is a chance to meet her Granddad, ‘no Grandda!’ (Ralph Cotterill) for the first time.
These three generations of the Maloneys reunite in a small flat in Nottingham. As well as being a cantankerous, patriarchal figure, Grandfather Brian is a proud, passionate and active Provisional IRA supporter. Being a journalist, Rose is keen to capture all of the family’s stories, no matter how dark and distasteful.
Danny, a traumatised Vietnam veteran, is still - after decades - coming to terms with the traumas that he experienced and their subsequent effects on his family – the ‘involuntary conscripts’. However, it is Granddad’s 80th birthday – so let the celebrations begin.
I went to see this play, expecting it to be another in a line of recent productions which you want to slit your wrists upon leaving. However, the play was not solely about Vietnam veterans, nor Rose / Kate’s Wilms’ Tumour (a paediatric blastoma attributed to the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam), instead it was a wonderful study of a family reunion, family bonds and the expectations made by one relative of another.
The audience were taken on a rollercoaster ride ranging from hilarious Irish humour, to truly heart wrenching, pathetic tragedy by an outstanding cast. The fresh script was full of symbolism, surprises and excellent – although rather ‘ripe’ - dialogue. The characters were completely believable; in fact, I am sure most families will immediately recognise one of their family members. Politicians have a lot to answer for, and as Kate has been quoted, ‘we are still at war. Let us not make the same mistakes again’.
Director Iain Sinclair, and companion director, Neil Armfield’s subtle, tender treatment of the script achieved a satisfying, sensitive and touching yet powerful outcome. Matt Cox’s lighting combined with the well-synced sound effects and music from Steve Toulmin, rounded of this memorable and thought provoking production. Not many seats left for these 2-hours of riveting entertainment.
‘The Seed’ is adapted from the book by Geraldton playwright, and actor, Kate Mulvany. It won the Naked Theatre Company’s ‘Write Now!’ competition and a Philip Parsons Young Playwright’s Award. The play, recently, won the best independent production prize at the Sydney Theatre Awards.
At Heathrow Airport, Danny (Pip Miller) and his 30-year-old journalist daughter, Rose (Kate Mulvany) have just arrived off a 22-hour flight from their home in WA. Danny is less than impressed by the change in the UK since his last visit. For Rose it is a chance to meet her Granddad, ‘no Grandda!’ (Ralph Cotterill) for the first time.
These three generations of the Maloneys reunite in a small flat in Nottingham. As well as being a cantankerous, patriarchal figure, Grandfather Brian is a proud, passionate and active Provisional IRA supporter. Being a journalist, Rose is keen to capture all of the family’s stories, no matter how dark and distasteful.
Danny, a traumatised Vietnam veteran, is still - after decades - coming to terms with the traumas that he experienced and their subsequent effects on his family – the ‘involuntary conscripts’. However, it is Granddad’s 80th birthday – so let the celebrations begin.
I went to see this play, expecting it to be another in a line of recent productions which you want to slit your wrists upon leaving. However, the play was not solely about Vietnam veterans, nor Rose / Kate’s Wilms’ Tumour (a paediatric blastoma attributed to the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam), instead it was a wonderful study of a family reunion, family bonds and the expectations made by one relative of another.
The audience were taken on a rollercoaster ride ranging from hilarious Irish humour, to truly heart wrenching, pathetic tragedy by an outstanding cast. The fresh script was full of symbolism, surprises and excellent – although rather ‘ripe’ - dialogue. The characters were completely believable; in fact, I am sure most families will immediately recognise one of their family members. Politicians have a lot to answer for, and as Kate has been quoted, ‘we are still at war. Let us not make the same mistakes again’.
Director Iain Sinclair, and companion director, Neil Armfield’s subtle, tender treatment of the script achieved a satisfying, sensitive and touching yet powerful outcome. Matt Cox’s lighting combined with the well-synced sound effects and music from Steve Toulmin, rounded of this memorable and thought provoking production. Not many seats left for these 2-hours of riveting entertainment.