Yakfest 2011

‘Yakfest: Blak Yak's One Acts Plays for 2011’. This collection of four original, West Australian plays is being presented by the Blak Yak Theatre Company at the Midland Junction Arts Centre, 276 Great Eastern Highway (at the corner of Cale Street), Midland. The three-hour performances are on nightly at 7.30 pm until 3^rd September, with a 2.00 pm matinee on Sunday the 4^th.

'Sticks and Stones' was co-written by Jess Messenger and Esther Longhurst, and directed by Jess Messenger. This production is by the Scripture Union of Western Australia, and is presented by the Fine Edge Theatre Company, that has been touring the WA high schools since 1998, helping students of all ages explore the relationship between life and faith.

Unfortunately this play will not be performed in the Friday night programme.

          In a school broadcasting studio, Bec (Courtney Parker) is helping the good-looking technician (Sammy Johnson) set up for a broadcast. However, another student, Bethany (Emily Hughes) has her eyes on the young man and is seething at her best friend, who appears to be stealing him from her. An argument starts and Bec is sent to see the Principal’s Aid (Amy Robertson) and is suspended.

         Rumours appear on the Internet and Rebecca is unfairly labelled a slag.

These short plays, by Fine Edge, are designed to show students how to respect each other, how to handle bullying at school and have hope that things will change for the better. This play had several messages blended into the script. It is written in the disjointed jargon used by the kids of today.

Whilst being admirable, I felt that it needed more attention to the construction to allow a better flow.

With Sammy playing several characters, a greater variety in his clothing - colour especially - would help a quicker appreciation that the character had changed.

The actors were a little nervous to begin with, but settled own well by the end.

‘The Shoemaker's Daughter’ was written by Jessica Messenger, and directed by Esther Longhurst.

        A young girl, Margaret (Belinda Wong) tells the sad tale of how her shoemaker father died and left her almost destitute. He did however leave her the skill to make amazing shoes. Eventually, she went to work at a designer label footwear factory, where her ideas were commandeered by the head designer (Jessica Messenger).

        We are then transported to a factory in China where Mai Lin works horrendous hours for nothing.

        Can there ever be any justice for these two young girls?

Two beautiful little stories, one in the Hans Christian Andersen style, the other an all-too-true revelation of work conditions in Asia.

Very well written and directed. Belinda had an almost balletic way of moving which gave grace and sympathy to the characters. Her singing was mellifluous. Jessica played many wonderful characters, changing from one to another in a split second. There was ample differentiation between the personalities, both with expression and accent. Two very solid performances.

This was a most enjoyable story, very well acted and full of humour. It has been entered in a Dramafest later in the year. Excellent.

‘Follicle Farm’ was written and directed by Stephan Jean De Jonghe.

        If you think that hair just grows, then think again.

        The manager (Bonnie Rae Bruce) has brought two new recruits to meet their supervisor (John Bevan) who is in charge of hair growth. The workers, Short (Mario Piccoli) and Curly (Tracy Myhill) have been moved to the scalp from other parts of the body. The supervisor explains the various tricks of the trade.

This is quite a comical story with a zany original storyline. Some very funny lines, but I found the genre used to perform this play too childish – almost like a pantomime. Stephan has proved his talent as a writer and director many times over, however I feel that this time, possibly because he is both writer and director, that the style doesn’t work. A very dry humour with tongue in cheek, would probably give a much more acceptable outcome.

The performers acted well in the style requested by the director.

‘Miss Perth 23’ was devised by Phil Barnett, Katie Cameron and Daniel Kershaw, and then written, developed and directed by Daniel Kershaw.

         A shy young man (Phil Barnett), who lives an almost hermit-like existence, seems only to be able to communicate via the Internet social networks. One day he returns home from work to find one of his Facebook friends, whom he has never met, sitting in his flat. The arty type girl (Katie Cameron) with coloured braids and blood-splattered shirt has come to visit her hero.

         She explains that the man is the only one who can turn her on, as his vocabulary works like magic to this synaethesia sufferer. The words he speaks conjure up an infinite variety of delicious flavours and tastes for this youngster.

This is a very well written, good solid story with first-rate dialogue. The performers were admirable; with perfect pace they grabbed the audience and held them throughout the play. There was tension, sympathy and humour skilfully blended into the script.

For a girl who was so interested in words I was surprised to hear Lima beans pronounced ‘Lime-ah’ instead of ‘Leema’.

Perhaps a little more storyline at the end, I felt that there was a too abrupt ending. Daniel can certainly create atmosphere and tension in his stories. Most enjoyable.

The overall evening was 50 / 50.  Two average and two very good plays.