Virgie
Tue, 7 Feb 2012, 08:45 amGordon the Optom2 posts in thread
Virgie
Tue, 7 Feb 2012, 08:45 am‘Virgie’ was written by WA actor, Renee Newman-Storen who has recently achieved her PhD in English. As part of the Fringe World Summer Nights series, this production from theMOXYcollective is being presented until the 10th February. The 50-minute performances are in the Blue Room Studio, 53 James Street, Northbridge each evening at 7.00 pm.
It is the early 1890s and a young girl, Virgie Vivienne (Renee Newman-Storen), is being dragged around the theatres, up and down the east coast of Australia by her actress mother. After a couple of years of performing mediocre Shakespearean plays, Virgie realises how bad an actress she really is and decides to head to England to learn her craft properly.
She returns to Australia in 1898. Dressed in a white corset and long cotton skirt, Virgie is constantly trying to please the audiences, even if it means slipping in a bit of soft-shoe shuffle into the bard’s work. She find the accolades difficult to accept, and is really quite a coy person.
On hearing of the wealth and the number of young men in Kalgoorlie, Virgie travels west to perform her unique version of ‘Hamlet’ in the desert.
Will this journey be all that Virgie expects and how will the rough inhabitants receive her?
This superbly researched play was first presented at the New York International Fringe Festival last year. Now, in a revamped version, Renee presents her fascinating solo performance and at times very moving tale of Virgie.
Blended with very well chosen contemporary music, black and white film of Kalgoorlie shot in the late 19th century the mood is captured beautifully. Under the direction of her husband, Mark Storen and Emily McLean the action flowed well. I found the pace a little slow at times, but the story had plenty of captivating gems of information and changes of mood. At times here was a cheeky grin, followed by an odd tear as she recalled the hard times of her life.
A delightful play very well acted.
‘Virgie’ was written by WA actor, Renee Newman-Storen who has recently achieved her PhD in English. As part of the Fringe World Summer Nights series, this production from theMOXYcollective is being presented until the 10th February. The 50-minute performances are in the Blue Room Studio, 53 James Street, Northbridge each evening at 7.00 pm.
It is the early 1890s and a young girl, Virgie Vivienne (Renee Newman-Storen), is being dragged around the theatres, up and down the east coast of Australia by her actress mother. After a couple of years of performing mediocre Shakespearean plays, Virgie realises how bad an actress she really is and decides to head to England to learn her craft properly.
She returns to Australia in 1898. Dressed in a white corset and long cotton skirt, Virgie is constantly trying to please the audiences, even if it means slipping in a bit of soft-shoe shuffle into the bard’s work. She find the accolades difficult to accept, and is really quite a coy person.
On hearing of the wealth and the number of young men in Kalgoorlie, Virgie travels west to perform her unique version of ‘Hamlet’ in the desert.
Will this journey be all that Virgie expects and how will the rough inhabitants receive her?
This superbly researched play was first presented at the New York International Fringe Festival last year. Now, in a revamped version, Renee presents her fascinating solo performance and at times very moving tale of Virgie.
Blended with very well chosen contemporary music, black and white film of Kalgoorlie shot in the late 19th century the mood is captured beautifully. Under the direction of her husband, Mark Storen and Emily McLean the action flowed well. I found the pace a little slow at times, but the story had plenty of captivating gems of information and changes of mood. At times here was a cheeky grin, followed by an odd tear as she recalled the hard times of her life.
A delightful play very well acted.