If you’re expecting amateur productions from Melville Theatre Company that are of a slightly higher quality – but not nearly as funny – as school productions, then you’re in for a big surprise. Their latest play, ‘Colder Than Here’, has risen bar of expectations for all small theatre groups to present professional, heart warming, and intriguing plays.
‘Colder Than Here’ is a play written by Laura Wade in 2005, and follows the lives of four family members as they try to deal with the mother, Myra’s diagnosis with cancer. While Myra busies herself with making light of the situation and reading books on DIY funerals, the rest of the family inwardly struggle. The father, Alec, and his eldest daughter Harriett tip-toe around the situation and Myra’s feelings. The same cannot be said for the 27 year-old Jenna, the youngest child. Written to act and behave with the mentality of a teenager that never learned that they are not the centre of attention or how to deal with problems, Jenna brings drama to the stage like no other character.
Susan Lynch has taken the script and transformed it into a family that comes to life before your very eyes. Myra, played by Sharon Menzies, seemed to get every line in perfect conjunction with the realistic emotion. The family all reflected different personalities that could truly have been a real family going through the motions of grieving the future loss of their mother, the glue that holds the family together. Lynch ensured that the play moved smoothly, without the set continually changing and ensured an interesting use of the space of the Melville Theatre stage. No one scene looked the same despite the two main settings of the play in the family’s living room, and grave yards.
The actors all took on the hard job of expressing such raw emotions and excelled. This gave the play a strong sense of reality, and captivation as the audience watches seemingly real people deal with death. Alec, played by Phil Lord, provided the stereotypical father who struggles to deal with his own emotions and help his daughters through the ordeal. He provided some comic relief to balance out Jenna, played by Belle Toy. Toy had you on a rollercoaster of emotions, one minute feeling repulsed at her tantrums, the next moment she had you in tears with the raw display of vulnerability.
From a sophisticated set design incorporating a living room set, to the use of AV to project images of graveyards to set the scene and provide some scope of imagination, ‘Colder Than Here’ has proved itself to be a play of great value. Lynch has directed a play that has the ability to move the audience from tears to laughter in a matter of moments, keeping the play moving and the audience captivated. It was touching in its expression and exploration of such a taboo topic of death, which ended on a peaceful note.
Tahlia Reid
‘Colder Than Here’ plays at 8pm September 12, 13 and 14. Tickets are $18, $14 concession – book on 9330 4565 or HERE.