Paper Cuts

‘Paper Cuts’ an advanced devised piece by Marisa Garreffa, is the first alliance between ECU’s School of Contemporary Arts and WAAPA. The production is showing at The Roundhouse Theatre, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University, 2 Bradford Street, Mount Lawley until Thursday the 19^th November. Shows at 7.30 pm.

       The in-the-round stage is strewn with paper, masses of bundles, sheets, paper aeroplanes and diaries. The audience seats are layered with letters, bills and even Post-its.
       Suspended above the stage is a light mushroom coloured, thick cotton sky. This 300 sq. metre piece of cloth has a myriad of holes of cut into it, with chandeliers of fine lights suspended through them.
       A young man (Charles Boman) sits, and gently plucks at his guitar. Nine girls, some of whom live together, others leading their own lives, start to live out their daily routine. As we eavesdrop, we see periods of our own past lives unfold.
      The characters range from a wonderful, bubbly cherub – probably called Melonie(!) - who fires her arrows of written love, unnoticed, at the man of her dreams. Then there is the control freak that spends half her life on the toilet, leaves annoying Post-its everywhere for her flat mates, and then wonders why no one likes her. There is a poet, constantly writing French billet-doux to her true love, Sunny. A girl who is desperate to have her first real boyfriend, but reads between the lines far too much. The flatmate who tells us all about her experiences, the complaining letter writer, the red-hot lover, the chain letter writer – the combinations are endless.
      In the end, could Chicken Licken have been correct? Excellent work from Dean Gibbs, Thea and Katherine.

The characters very well observed and portrayed, with plenty of pace and interest. The cast were Courtney Thorne, Ebony Ruggero, Jackie Davis, Jaleesa Bajars, Jess Harlond-Kenny, Lisa Henderson, Sam Froudist, Stevie-Lee Bounader and Tamara Apenis.
Every aspect of message writing and texting has been included. The script is very funny throughout, yet there is still a touch of pathos and the feel of the frustration that young people experience in their lives.

The set by Ami McDonald and India Mehta was totally original and breathtaking. The costumes (Amy Clark, Esther Lane and Stephanie Rehnelt) at first glance appeared to be simple shrouds, but on a second look, they had subtle tie-and-dye effects and were well tailored. The sound effects (Steven Boender) were crisp and added to the interest. The lighting (Karen Kristensen) was outstanding, from the delicate bud lights to the amazing effect of the blue floods shone through the perforated surreal sky.

This was another real feel good show from talented director Marisa Garreffa. A very successful union of skills from the two university departments.