The Shape of Things

I write this review freely acknowledging that I'm not totally independent - I'm the Chair of Old Mill. I saw this play for the first time on Saturday night, along with another 20 or so people. This has been by far the worst start we've had to a season (in terms of bums on seats) for a number of years. But is a fantastic production, and deserves to be seen by a lot more people! This review is partly to thank and congratulate the cast and crew of the show, and partly to wake everyone else up... I've known director Sue Lynch for many years - she directed me in Stories from Suburban Road in 2004, and she also directed Art at Old Mill a couple of years ago. I think there is some similarity in the three productions in that they have all taken a minimalist approach to the set, but have used this to maximum advantage. Those that saw our last production (Streetcar Named Desire) would have been immediately wowed by the richness and complexity of the set, which re-created a small New Orleans apartment to minute detail. The Shape of Things takes the opposite approach, requiring the audience to imagine the backdrops of each scene as the play unfolds. In my opinion, when this type of set is designed and executed well it creates a magical theatre experience - this set was designed and executed very well. One advantage of the minimalist approach is that it enables us to focus on the acting. I had never seen any of the four actors on stage previously; they were all making their debuts at Old Mill, and I hope they return. They were awesome! I particularly want to mention lead actor Tom Walding. I understand that he doesn't have a lot of experience, but WOW! This was a very challenging acting role, requiring a gradual but ultimately dramatic transformation throughout the course of play. He didn't just pull it off - I reckon he nailed it. Congratulations on a job very well done. Yeah, yeah, I know that this review could be construed to be a little biased, and that maybe I should be leaving it to people who are truly independent to be praising the production. But you know what? I don't care. This was theatre of a very high standard that far too few people saw on its opening week. Hopefully this spurs a few more of you to come :)

Hey Garry: You declared your interest. Not a problem in my book. Sounds like an interesting play. I liove in Adelaide though so... Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Thanks Gordon and Garry for your kind words. For the sake of the modern art lovers I have to confess that the artwork for the set is inspired by Mondrian, not Kandinsky or Klee, and not silverchair album cover art as suggested by some. Either way, I've had great fun putting it all together and I'm very proud of the cast and crew!

Like Garry, I could probably also be labelled as not being 'totally independent of bias', having a family member in this show, but on Saturday night nineteen of us came up from Mandurah and Rockingham to see it. It was EXCELLENT! In a nutshell. Don't miss it. Brilliant script, very well portrayed, and as a further bonus the tickets are inexpensive.

I headed to the Old Mill with a few friends to catch the final night of The Shape Of Things. Congratulations to Susan Lynch, her cast and crew for a very well executed production. The small cast did a terrific job. One of the best shows I've seen this year.