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Shorts - a season of short plays at Old Mill

Sat, 4 Sept 2010, 10:05 am
Kirilee15 posts in thread

First off, may I first state that on a general rule, I'm not a fan of one act plays. I find that they are rushed, not well thought out, and have no real depth to them.

 So when I state that Shorts, which consisted of 'Black and White' written by Eilannin Dhu and directed by Dannielle Ashton, and 'Part Loves' written by Martin Lindsay and directed by Jeff Watkins, was some of the best theater I've seen in a while, you understand I'm not saying it lightly!

 First off, a HUGE congratulations to Krysia Wiechecki and Phil Barnett who played Alison and Peter in Black and White. They both had outstanding performances, to the point when my boyfriend who isn't a theater goer got so frustrated that he wanted to leap onto the stage hit "Peter" himself and shake "Alison" to wake her up (I had to remind him in a calming manner that they were both actors :)). I think that in itself tells you how much this production effects the audience.

Written just brilliantly, the audience just follows the downwards spiral and like a rollercoster ride, can't help but to watch. Well done to Eilannin Dhu, and to Dannielle Ashton for making this story come to lift.

 Past Loves was a lot more light hearted, and had the audience in stitches of laughter from start to finish (in fact, the last line sent me in a frenzy of giggles for about a minute). Everyone in the cast had a brilliant sense of comical timing. Murray Jackson with his sense of innocence about the whole affair, Anna Pelusa with her airy-fairy beliefs, Martin Lindsay as the buck, Lisa Skrypichayko as the wife who wants to be ravished, and Grace Edwards.... well, her sense of comic timing was brilliant, in all of her characters. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

 Congratulations to Jeff Watkins for directing this piece. Everything gelled really well, and some truly beautiful scenes. And Martin Lindsay, I want to see more of your writing! You are one heck of a funny man.

 So in closing, if you live in Perth and want some good theater, GO AND SEE SHORTS!

Thread (15 posts)

KirileeSat, 4 Sept 2010, 10:05 am

First off, may I first state that on a general rule, I'm not a fan of one act plays. I find that they are rushed, not well thought out, and have no real depth to them.

 So when I state that Shorts, which consisted of 'Black and White' written by Eilannin Dhu and directed by Dannielle Ashton, and 'Part Loves' written by Martin Lindsay and directed by Jeff Watkins, was some of the best theater I've seen in a while, you understand I'm not saying it lightly!

 First off, a HUGE congratulations to Krysia Wiechecki and Phil Barnett who played Alison and Peter in Black and White. They both had outstanding performances, to the point when my boyfriend who isn't a theater goer got so frustrated that he wanted to leap onto the stage hit "Peter" himself and shake "Alison" to wake her up (I had to remind him in a calming manner that they were both actors :)). I think that in itself tells you how much this production effects the audience.

Written just brilliantly, the audience just follows the downwards spiral and like a rollercoster ride, can't help but to watch. Well done to Eilannin Dhu, and to Dannielle Ashton for making this story come to lift.

 Past Loves was a lot more light hearted, and had the audience in stitches of laughter from start to finish (in fact, the last line sent me in a frenzy of giggles for about a minute). Everyone in the cast had a brilliant sense of comical timing. Murray Jackson with his sense of innocence about the whole affair, Anna Pelusa with her airy-fairy beliefs, Martin Lindsay as the buck, Lisa Skrypichayko as the wife who wants to be ravished, and Grace Edwards.... well, her sense of comic timing was brilliant, in all of her characters. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

 Congratulations to Jeff Watkins for directing this piece. Everything gelled really well, and some truly beautiful scenes. And Martin Lindsay, I want to see more of your writing! You are one heck of a funny man.

 So in closing, if you live in Perth and want some good theater, GO AND SEE SHORTS!

LabrugSat, 4 Sept 2010, 05:50 pm

Thanks

Thanks for the Great Review. It has been a very enjoyable experience. Even directing the writer turned out to be easier than I anticipated. ;-)

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

Looking for an Agent? Read this first!!

Johnny GrimSat, 4 Sept 2010, 06:10 pm

cringeworthy

As a member of the 'cringeworthy' local writing brigade, I find it somewhat disappointing to read the statement above, i.e. Newly / locally written one acts make me cringe even more. Here I was thinking it was we old buggers who held narrow-minded views? Thankfully, comments like this make me somewhat eager to rush forth, another none thought out, surface dwelling one act play. Johnny Grim A lad in sane productions
KirileeSat, 4 Sept 2010, 06:55 pm

I am sorry if I offended

I am sorry if I offended you Johnny Grim, to my knowledge, I have never seen something of yours. I am however talking about my own personal experience of what I have seen in the past, community and professional. But as last night proved, there are some fantastic WA playwrights - and I can't wait to see more of their works. I have found it so refreshing! Once again, I did not mean any offence and I do wish you, and all WA playwrights the best.
LabrugSat, 4 Sept 2010, 08:31 pm

General Thoughts

Hey Johnny. While it may be a rather unfortunate opinion it is a general one. Not saying that I share this, it is simply something that I think everyone has encounted more than once, either personally or third-hand. It's a general mindset that all new authors, directors and production companies have to face - the Unknown Factor.

 As Shakespeare made Hamlet say, fear of the unknown 'makes us rather bear those ills we have than to fly to others we know not of.'

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

Looking for an Agent? Read this first!!

Johnny GrimMon, 6 Sept 2010, 09:24 pm

time for change

Yes Jeff, I'm well aware the view is a common mindset, and one I hope we local writers can one day change. cheers Johnny Grim
LogosTue, 7 Sept 2010, 09:11 am

Its he same here

Local work does not attract audiences in SA either. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au
LabrugTue, 7 Sept 2010, 09:23 am

Honestly

I truly hope you do. There is a lot of talent out there.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

Looking for an Agent? Read this first!!

Johnny GrimTue, 7 Sept 2010, 10:41 pm

in the words of someone far more eloquent

we will fight them on the beaches (or at least the suburban theatres), we will never surrender... JG
Johnny GrimTue, 7 Sept 2010, 10:45 pm

no apology necessary

Hi Kirelee, I don't take offence, and please don't apologise for expressing your honest opinion. It is an opinion shared by many, as Jeff so rightly attests. I'm just pleased that what you saw at the Old Mill has given you an appreciation of some of the talent we have on our own doorstep, and as a local writer I can't help but put my two bob's worth in for our cause. cheers Johnny Grim
LogosWed, 8 Sept 2010, 10:27 am

Indeed

Keep your pecker up. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au
Walter PlingeFri, 10 Sept 2010, 02:36 pm

Black & White

So what was the guy's problem? He was a control freak, an obsessive hoarder, a gambler, a porn addict, delusional and violently predatory. Surely there's a name for that?
Robert J WhyteSat, 11 Sept 2010, 12:23 am

F I I K

I don't know but I bet its hard to spell and pronounce.
LabrugSat, 11 Sept 2010, 12:32 am

Nuts

Nuts, completely and utterly.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins

Looking for an Agent? Read this first!!

Tim ProsserSat, 11 Sept 2010, 01:12 am

No, I think Jeff's nailed

No, I think Jeff's nailed it!

 

Per Ardua Ad Astra

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