The Messenger
Sat, 17 Sept 2011, 12:27 pmGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The Messenger
Sat, 17 Sept 2011, 12:27 pm‘The Messenger’ was adapted in 2008 by Ross Mueller from the novel by 36 year old, Sydney author, Markus Zusak. This 2002 novel became the 2003 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s ‘Book of the Year’.
This 90-minute ensemble presentation is at the Subiaco Theatre Studio, 180 Hammersley Road, Subiaco is performed by Curtin’s Performance Studies Students and the Hayman Theatre Company. Curtain up at 7.30 pm, with performances until Saturday 24th September.
When Ed Kennedy’s Dad died, his mother (Rachel Foucer) was constantly on his back, pointing out what a total loser he is. Ed (Kyle Kash-Gregory) is an underage taxi driver, badly lacking in self confidence. He has moved out of home and spends most of his spare time watching a girl that he has never met, Sophie (Erin Carter) running around the park. He tries to communicate, but she thinks that he is a stalker. Ed is pushed around by everyone, even by his 17 yrs old, coffee-addicted, dog, Doorman (Stephen East) – possibly the source of TV’s ‘Wilfred’.
One day when Ed was out at the bank, and armed robber was threatening everyone. Ed, although petrified, frightened him away and became the hero of the day, but will Audrey (Violette Ayad), the love of his life, now become his real girlfriend and not simply think of him as a ‘brother’ substitute.
Ed finds a playing card from an unknown sender, in his letter box. It is an ace with written instructions on it, he has become the Messenger. The card instructs Ed to go to a certain house in Edgar Street to save a woman (Rebecca Miller) and her small daughter (Tessa Carmody) from an abusive male. No sooner is this task completed, when another ace appears with further instructions for him to help a friend. As Ed is going home, he sees his mother in a café, having a coffee with a strange man (David Valent), who on earth can he be?
A friend of Ed’s, Marv (Danen Engelenberg), wants to see his illegitimate child that he fathered with Suzanne (Sarah Bazeley). However Marv is having trouble getting past her narrow-minded father (Cody Cianfagna) and overprotective mother, things seemed impossible. With Ed’s help and guidance there could be hope for the couple, who are still very much in love.
Gradually Ed finds that he is having small but significant affects on many people’s lives, he regains confidence, reaches his potential and so secures their love and admiration. Could it be that he is not only the messenger but the message?
This play allows teenagers, in the language that they use every day – yes there are quite a few swear words – to see alternatives on how to approach the difficulties they face in everyday life. It is not preaching in a way that will turn the youths off, but rather plenty of subtle hints, delivered with a great deal of humour and in a manner with which most will instantly relate. The play which is full of literary allusions, a well-known device in novels which refers to other texts and writers.
The entire cast are on stage for the whole production, hence the ‘ensemble’ description. Director, Emily McLean (Curtin Artist-in-residence) together with her assistant David Cronin, have produced some wonderful moments, such as the police interrogation that is carried out almost as a dance routine, suggesting the boring and inflexible practice of the law. The energetic cast kept the stage alive and exciting throughout.
Brad Reid’s set design was excellent. Constructed by Graeme Clifford Mell and dressed by Tammer Boutros and Claire Williams, it showed the grimy, derelict area that Ed was living in. After each show the stage team, Hannah Hugessen and Rachel Granger will have quite a bit of tidying up to do.
We learn that love doesn’t always make us happy, but we achieve the joy in life by accepting its reality.
Superb script and slightly arcane dialogue, blended with stacks of laughs and advice. The youngsters really enjoyed it.
‘The Messenger’ was adapted in 2008 by Ross Mueller from the novel by 36 year old, Sydney author, Markus Zusak. This 2002 novel became the 2003 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s ‘Book of the Year’.
This 90-minute ensemble presentation is at the Subiaco Theatre Studio, 180 Hammersley Road, Subiaco is performed by Curtin’s Performance Studies Students and the Hayman Theatre Company. Curtain up at 7.30 pm, with performances until Saturday 24th September.
When Ed Kennedy’s Dad died, his mother (Rachel Foucer) was constantly on his back, pointing out what a total loser he is. Ed (Kyle Kash-Gregory) is an underage taxi driver, badly lacking in self confidence. He has moved out of home and spends most of his spare time watching a girl that he has never met, Sophie (Erin Carter) running around the park. He tries to communicate, but she thinks that he is a stalker. Ed is pushed around by everyone, even by his 17 yrs old, coffee-addicted, dog, Doorman (Stephen East) – possibly the source of TV’s ‘Wilfred’.
One day when Ed was out at the bank, and armed robber was threatening everyone. Ed, although petrified, frightened him away and became the hero of the day, but will Audrey (Violette Ayad), the love of his life, now become his real girlfriend and not simply think of him as a ‘brother’ substitute.
Ed finds a playing card from an unknown sender, in his letter box. It is an ace with written instructions on it, he has become the Messenger. The card instructs Ed to go to a certain house in Edgar Street to save a woman (Rebecca Miller) and her small daughter (Tessa Carmody) from an abusive male. No sooner is this task completed, when another ace appears with further instructions for him to help a friend. As Ed is going home, he sees his mother in a café, having a coffee with a strange man (David Valent), who on earth can he be?
A friend of Ed’s, Marv (Danen Engelenberg), wants to see his illegitimate child that he fathered with Suzanne (Sarah Bazeley). However Marv is having trouble getting past her narrow-minded father (Cody Cianfagna) and overprotective mother, things seemed impossible. With Ed’s help and guidance there could be hope for the couple, who are still very much in love.
Gradually Ed finds that he is having small but significant affects on many people’s lives, he regains confidence, reaches his potential and so secures their love and admiration. Could it be that he is not only the messenger but the message?
This play allows teenagers, in the language that they use every day – yes there are quite a few swear words – to see alternatives on how to approach the difficulties they face in everyday life. It is not preaching in a way that will turn the youths off, but rather plenty of subtle hints, delivered with a great deal of humour and in a manner with which most will instantly relate. The play which is full of literary allusions, a well-known device in novels which refers to other texts and writers.
The entire cast are on stage for the whole production, hence the ‘ensemble’ description. Director, Emily McLean (Curtin Artist-in-residence) together with her assistant David Cronin, have produced some wonderful moments, such as the police interrogation that is carried out almost as a dance routine, suggesting the boring and inflexible practice of the law. The energetic cast kept the stage alive and exciting throughout.
Brad Reid’s set design was excellent. Constructed by Graeme Clifford Mell and dressed by Tammer Boutros and Claire Williams, it showed the grimy, derelict area that Ed was living in. After each show the stage team, Hannah Hugessen and Rachel Granger will have quite a bit of tidying up to do.
We learn that love doesn’t always make us happy, but we achieve the joy in life by accepting its reality.
Superb script and slightly arcane dialogue, blended with stacks of laughs and advice. The youngsters really enjoyed it.