The Ordinary Journey of Mr ODD

‘The Ordinary Journey of Mr Odd’ is a semi-autobiographical tale, written by Murdoch doctorate student, Josef Hewber. Josef’s Ph.D. being on the psychological results of memory. This is the tale of the typical ‘man in the street’. Mood Theatre and OLEM present further shows on the 15^th and 16^th September at the Nexus Theatre – near car park 3 – Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch. The performances are at 7.30 pm.

Josef Hewber and Julian Silburn studied the effect of noise, and how various frequencies can affect your mood and mind. They combined over one hundred tracks of oscillations, from a low earth hum, to about 2000 Hz, this they called Solfeggio Frequency Arpeggiation (SOLFA). Noel Davies then added colour to the sound – this synaesthesia is employed at the beginning of this play. In this production, Matthew Dibs and Andrew Goodwin aided the creation of the sound and colour. 

          A low note fills the auditorium, then, as in the Beatles’ ‘A Day in the Life’ it slowly it rises to a pitch. Pictures of Second World War atrocities are projected onto the background. A naked male collapses onto the floor. The journey of Mr Odd (Andrew Dawson) has begun, a child lying amongst the detritus of war ruins. A burst of the ‘1812 overture’ with cannons and bells ringing suggests hope. This uncared-for child is carried along by the others in strife and escapes by boat. Eventually he is washed up on a foreign shore, Shamballah.

        In a white Greek robe, Soul (Harriet Elisabeth-Fettis, beautiful diction) appears to become his guardian angel. She becomes the narrator, and watches as he receives a warm welcome in his new country, only to find that the warmth evaporates and the ‘Wog boy’ taunts start. Particular focus is made on the suffering of the young Mr Odd. Like many underdogs, he plays the fool in order to win round the opposition, his Fool (Abby McCaughan) can raise a smile, dance and move beautifully and play a musical instrument. However, the beautiful, sexy and taunting Lure (Amy Murray – excellent) gives the young man a glimpse of affection before her gang (Janice Lim, Tadgh K. Bird and Daley King) systematically try to destroy Mr Odd. He is compelled to work tirelessly.

        Will life for Mr Odd get any better, or is he doomed to a life of despair and forever being the underdog?

The play appears to end as the cast mingle with the audience, it then recommences with a short epilogue. This is followed by a beautifully touching and amazingly scripted, mind guiding passage whispered to the audience by the writer. Finally came the light-hearted moral of the story, rounded off with a wonderful Leonard Cohen track.

This is not so much a play as glimpses and flashbacks at a life, a life that has seen suffering and joy. It considers the effect of the good times, and can they ever really wipe out the hard times? As Soul says, ‘be careful what you wish for – you might get it!’

As you look at people in the street, this play makes you wonder what their life was like at the beginning. Does the smile on their face really tell the whole truth? How deep does one need to go to find profound tragedy? This a wonderful script that subtly hints at the truth. Although a tough topic the presentation and direction by David Moody, teched by Katrina Johnston, makes the whole tale palatable.

A well-observed and admirably presented tale of ‘the man in the street’.