Shorts - Old Mill

‘Shorts - a season of short plays’ is showing at The Old Mill Theatre, Mends Street, South Perth nightly at 8.00 pm until 10^th September.

‘Black and White’ written by WA actor Eilannin Dhu, whose name co-incidentally is Gaelic for ‘the other black’.

         Loving and caring 18 years old Alison (Krysia Wiechecki) is living in a rundown apartment with her much older partner Peter (Phil Barnett). ‘As a woman’s place is in the home’ subservient Alison will do anything to keep Peter happy. He obviously cares a great deal for her – or does he?

As always Dannielle Ashton’s direction, assisted here by Katie Cameron, is superb. With the whole set painted matte black, black drapes and black props, save the single white pillowslip on Alison’s side of the bed, the sombre side of the very well written text was emphasised.

Despite the stage crew being well focused and efficient, each of the set changes unfortunately slowed the pace and reduced the tension that had just been built up; I am sorry, but I have no suggestions of how that could be overcome. Good lighting and sound from Julia Hern. Well chosen mood music.

Krysia has always given the very best of her immense talent, but here, in an especially powerful performance, she drained every ounce of sympathy from the audience as she dealt with the skilled manipulator. Phil was threatening in the ‘Last Train to Freo’ but here I found his performance as the unpredictable partner terrifying, as the two characters played out a scenario that almost everyone will have witnessed amongst their family or friends. Eilannin’s writing was very well observed and the dialogue flowed naturally. Often this type of drama gets too sentimental, or tries to push a message, here we were fed unadorned facts of a unbearable situation and left to suffer along with Alison.

This heavy drama may not be to everyone’s taste, one audience member told me that whilst they thought the acting was magnificent, they hated every minute – perhaps it bit a little too close to home, or they don’t want to watch other people’s dirty washing being aired in public.

Parts of the story reminded me of Terence Stamp’s film ‘The Collector’. A very powerful and beautifully executed play. A story that needed to be told.

‘Past Loves’ is a brief comedy written by well-known WA actor Martin Lindsay.

         Angie (Anna Pelusa) arranges to meet family friend, Ben (Murray Jackson) in local cafe to inform him that their previous lovemaking sessions have been bearing heavily on her conscience, and that she feels that she has no other choice than to tell her husband Richard (Martin Lindsay). Ben is devastated, what will his wife Donna (Lisa Skrypichayko) think? Perhaps the counsellor (Grace Edwards) that Angie sees can help.

Director Jeff Watkins subtle, matter-of-fact approach worked well, with Anna and Murray giving mirthful performances.

This is a very funny, light-hearted short play, being ideal to send the audience home with, after the previously taxing drama.

A good all round night at the theatre.