The Boys

I have been wanting to see this production ever since I first read the synopsis. You can't beat an intense play that requires real hard-hitting emotions, and demands from the actors involved. I found myself watching this play in a completely different light to a regular audience member, therefore my review may be somewhat different. It is both a blessing and a curse as a trained actor to watch other productions at times grrrr! And just to clear the air now, any negative comments that I make are purely related to the performance on the night from the actor's perspective which I hope does not offend anyone. :( Cutting straight to the point, whilst being brutally honest...I think the girls completely stole the limelight, and made the boys performances less convincing. The only scene where I saw some really good work, was their final scene together in the build up to the big incident, but felt that more could have still been put into it. The Boys :- Murray Jackson My feelings for this guy remains the same as when I saw him in Trainspotting. There is great potential there, but I still find him to be too choreographed. It is clear that these 'bad guy' roles are well suited for Murray. Trouble is, as an actor viewing another actor, it appears as if he holds back too much, and tends to focus more on what his face is doing, leaving his body movement well behind. There are very distinctive flaws that could so easily be corrected during his performance. If you are to play a bad guy with a real mean streak, it requires more than the head being raised so the chin is more exposed, whilst tilting the head slighty to the side, and making your eyes appear to be popping out. All I could picture was Christopher Lloyd in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' at the end of the movie where his eyes lietarally pop out whilst saying to myself "What the f##k is this guy doing!?!?!?" Murray actually delivers his lines pretty well, but could even turn them up a notch. It is just his physical acting that lets him down in my opinion. Murray had a tendancy when looking out to the audience to move his head from left to right, left to right, to the point that is looked unnatural. And his knuckles, no matter what scene it was, or what emotion was required, would often remain by his side facing up, which again as an actor, can really drive you nuts. I wanted to see him let loose. Really go to town. If his character is pi##ed off with another character, then show it! Power across the stage. Don't prance. I know you're wearing thongs, but Jesus wept!! Tense the odd muscle. Move the arms more. Anything. Just don't let it all be in the face, especially the eyes. Having ripped into Murray for his acting ability on the night, I still believe, as I did after watching him in Trainspotting, that he has the tools to do a lot better. He just needs to break his characters down more when becomming them. Maybe start from the feet and work up when taking on the physical side of things? David Gregory David did pretty well for the more sympathetic brother. He looked the part, took in well what was happening around him, and was constantly on the ball. I think that he could have opened his mouth a little wider when delivering his lines as I couldn't always hear what he was saying, and like Murray, use his body a little more. David Bruce David was the strongest of the 3 guys for me. He played off of Krysia very well, and his final scene was his best scene. Every part of him in that scene was convincing. Maybe tone down the heavy breathing a little in that scene when it gets really heated as it looked as if he was going to pass out at one point, but generally the guy to watch. I found myself wanting to knock his head off when he was tearing shreads out of Krysia's role so he won my vote! ;) The Girls Val Richards This is the first time I have seen Val onstage when opposed to backstage so was quite keen to see what she would bring to the table. Her character was easy to warmth to, and she took on the role well. There was a couple of missed opportunity's where she could have played with the silence between lines, but overall nicely done! Julia Hern Julia has come far with this production, and it has allowed her to grow more as an actress. Working with Director Danni and fellow actress Krysia, she has furthered her key strengths as a performer, and really started using them to her advantage. Her final scene with Leah was her moment to shine, and she did just that. She allowed herself to dig deep, and kept her face on show throughout the whole scene, letting the audience see the pain that her character was feeling rather than hide it. Not an easy scene to play at all. Leah Maher I have to admit, it took me a while to shake off the 'Nurse from Romeo & Juliet' whom she played previously and take in the role of Jackie purely because she just did that role so bloody well!! There were some nice layers her character, and she kept you in suspense until her most demanding scene at the end. Krysia Wiechecki Krysia, Krysia, Krysia. There are very few people in this industry with that real 'raw' talent. If Sean Penn was a Perth based female, he would live in the body of Krysia Wiechecki. I keep saying to Krysia "Why can't you do something a little easier for a change? Maybe a lighthearted romantic comedy?" This girl, take on the biggest, hardest, most difficult roles, completely loses herself within that role, and blows you away when she performs. The demande for the roles that she takes on, words cannot describe. When she isn't popping out babies onstage, she's having a nervous breakdown, or tearing herself to pieces. She is totally electrifying. What I really respect and ove about this particular actress, is that she is completely listening to her surroundings. Many actors fail to do it, abut Krysia never fails. I always say, as a performer, if you really pay attention, you will see hundreds of invisible strings above each audience member. If you pull on them, you can literally control them, and make them react in any way that you choose. Krysia hits every string, and owns you from the moment she steps on stage, until the moment she exits, and leaves you speechless. even when she has no lines, she is totally within her character, scratching the wall, or playing with her pink ribbon on her nightie. Unreal! Krysia really understands the power of silence, and pauses within acting. She uses them to her advantage, and reminds you that an actor is far more powerful when standing there in silence, than when they are standing there screaming or cursing. Totally spine-tingling! Great respect!!! The girls really paid attention to one another, and fuelled eachother perfectly to build the right feel for their scenes. Unfortunately, there was a couple of great build-ups from the girls that were deflated by the guys when they reappeared onstage. The highlight for me was the girls reaction's in the final scene when Sandra said to the newborn "You look just like your father!" Absolutely priceless!! :) Overall, I would be rather sick if I said "Yes you must go and see this play!" due to it's content. But, if you want to be moved by a performance, then get down there and watch. Danni still remains to be the best to stage the 'real' plays! This play is about how a group of men destroyed a group of women's lives in some way or another. As far as this production goes as performers, Julia, Krysia, Leah and Val won one back for the women! :) Christian Dalton "A true actor is more himself, when he is not himself, and lost in a character."