The Shape of Things
Thu, 20 May 2010, 08:26 amGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The Shape of Things
Thu, 20 May 2010, 08:26 am‘The Shape of Things’ by French Canadian Neil LaBute is probably his most successful play. Presented by the HotBed Ensemble at PICA, Northbridge, the shows are at 8.00 pm until Saturday 29th May, with matinees including Sunday 30th May. The play runs for I hour 50 minutes with no interval.
The scene is the local museum and art gallery in a small American town, where amiable Adam (Tim Solly) a simple, insecure and extremely shy English Literature student works part-time as a security guard. One day, he catches rebel arts student Evelyn (Melanie Munt) trying to deface an important statue. Instead of arresting her, he is instantly smitten and Evelyn becomes his girlfriend. Inspired by her interest in him, he starts a makeover and strict health regime.
It soon becomes clear that there is far more to Evelyn than her new boyfriend realises. When Adam introduces her to his best friends, the sweet, quiet Jenny (Adriane Daff) and chauvinistic, jealous Phillip (Austin Castiglione), they are flummoxed by his changes, and Phillip has no qualms in telling Evelyn exactly what he thinks of her and her ideals. Dominatrix Evelyn tries to divide and separate the group, as her antics become even darker.
But how far will Adam go for her love?
This play was put on by The Old Mill last year and won much acclaim at the 2009 Finleys, receiving a Best Play nomination. Here however, we have the play as it was intended by the author – nitty, gritty with powerful, really nasty undertones. Being a practising Mormon, the Church did not like LaBute’s theme of manipulation. Indeed, a number of LaBute’s plays were frowned upon as unacceptable by the Church, some being cut after only their premieres. However, he was honoured as one of the ‘most promising undergraduate playwrights’ at Brigham University.
All four of these characters had immense depth. In a wonderful portrayal, Melanie’s Evelyn is truly disturbing, as with as sweet smile she systematically destroys Adam. Tim’s depiction of Adam’s shyness, with all of the mannerisms and nervous reactions, was outstanding.
Set designer, Fiona Bruce produced an ingenious yet simple set, which was a wall that retreated to form a sitting room, park area and finally an auditorium. Peter Dawson’s sound design was crisp and fascinating. The lighting by Tess Reuvers was lambent, allowing the magnificent moving image designs of Mia Holton to act as the ‘wallpaper and backdrop’. Stage Manager was Hugo Aguilar Lopez.
Praise must go to director Adam Mitchell for grasping this play’s subject matter, and depicting the undertones so vividly. The only author’s instruction not adhered to, was the request not have a curtain call. Adam’s cast took theirs and VERY well deserved it was too.
If you have seen this play before, see it again and become aware of the true depth of the writing.
‘The Shape of Things’ by French Canadian Neil LaBute is probably his most successful play. Presented by the HotBed Ensemble at PICA, Northbridge, the shows are at 8.00 pm until Saturday 29th May, with matinees including Sunday 30th May. The play runs for I hour 50 minutes with no interval.
The scene is the local museum and art gallery in a small American town, where amiable Adam (Tim Solly) a simple, insecure and extremely shy English Literature student works part-time as a security guard. One day, he catches rebel arts student Evelyn (Melanie Munt) trying to deface an important statue. Instead of arresting her, he is instantly smitten and Evelyn becomes his girlfriend. Inspired by her interest in him, he starts a makeover and strict health regime.
It soon becomes clear that there is far more to Evelyn than her new boyfriend realises. When Adam introduces her to his best friends, the sweet, quiet Jenny (Adriane Daff) and chauvinistic, jealous Phillip (Austin Castiglione), they are flummoxed by his changes, and Phillip has no qualms in telling Evelyn exactly what he thinks of her and her ideals. Dominatrix Evelyn tries to divide and separate the group, as her antics become even darker.
But how far will Adam go for her love?
This play was put on by The Old Mill last year and won much acclaim at the 2009 Finleys, receiving a Best Play nomination. Here however, we have the play as it was intended by the author – nitty, gritty with powerful, really nasty undertones. Being a practising Mormon, the Church did not like LaBute’s theme of manipulation. Indeed, a number of LaBute’s plays were frowned upon as unacceptable by the Church, some being cut after only their premieres. However, he was honoured as one of the ‘most promising undergraduate playwrights’ at Brigham University.
All four of these characters had immense depth. In a wonderful portrayal, Melanie’s Evelyn is truly disturbing, as with as sweet smile she systematically destroys Adam. Tim’s depiction of Adam’s shyness, with all of the mannerisms and nervous reactions, was outstanding.
Set designer, Fiona Bruce produced an ingenious yet simple set, which was a wall that retreated to form a sitting room, park area and finally an auditorium. Peter Dawson’s sound design was crisp and fascinating. The lighting by Tess Reuvers was lambent, allowing the magnificent moving image designs of Mia Holton to act as the ‘wallpaper and backdrop’. Stage Manager was Hugo Aguilar Lopez.
Praise must go to director Adam Mitchell for grasping this play’s subject matter, and depicting the undertones so vividly. The only author’s instruction not adhered to, was the request not have a curtain call. Adam’s cast took theirs and VERY well deserved it was too.
If you have seen this play before, see it again and become aware of the true depth of the writing.