WOLF LULLABY- Sweet dreams...
Wed, 29 Aug 2001, 12:09 amEliot McCann3 posts in thread
WOLF LULLABY- Sweet dreams...
Wed, 29 Aug 2001, 12:09 amProduction: "Wolf Lullaby" by Hilary Bell
Company: The Caution Horse Collective
Venue: The Rechabites Hall, Northbridge
Date 28/8/2001
What do you do with the following? Three chairs, a doll, minimal props, three overhead projectors, a couple of stencils, four willing actors, a lacklustre script and a derelict barn. If you are Indira McDonald- you make magic.
McDonald's unparalleled gift for design adn disciplined direction has made this play a not-to-be-missed event. If you REALLY want to see what can made with the meagrest resources, this is THE show to see. In fact at this point in time, this is THE show to see; full stop.
Taking its lead from the case of Jamie Bolger, "Wolf Lullaby" asks its audience to contemplate what drives the "innocent" children to be so cruel, so brutal. Are they really capable of killing without remorse? What does this do to the child? What does it do to the family?
Without dwelling too much on the performers (I say this due to the obvious bias!) all four bring out the honesty of each character, sometimes to heart-wrenching degree. Jamie Cant as Ray marks his return to the stage after an absence of six years (blimey!) with a well-tempered performance that is almost elegant. Nice to see a cop not played in the time-honoured Tony Martin "Wildside" style.
Craig Williams as Warren was superb as the bewildered father. Warren's struggle to grasp the possibility his daughter may be a murderer was genuine at every instance, and very touching to see a "bloke" played with such empathy.
It was a delight to see Jenny McCann onstage again, after her leave of absence. It was also a delight to hear these lines ACTED, as opposed to running them with her on a nightly basis!! I will say nothing of Jenny's performance (not really my place), but those who know her past work will not be disappointed with her role.
Amanda Crewes was ASTONISHING!!! I was waiting to see how the issue of an adult playing a nine-year-old would be handled; the answer is "with aplomb". Amanda carries off this feat with such conviction that it is difficult to reconcile the knowledge of her true age with the little girl depicted onstage. Nothing over the top- just enough to make the daughter Lizzie "real". I'm still at a loss to figure how Amanda did this; I envy your performance dreadfully.
"Wolf Lullaby" is what I am led to believe is known as an "unsupported assessment" for Indira's final year at WAAPA. Which begs the question; what on earth could she do with a "supported" environment? And all things being equal WAAPA, if they have any sense, should see just what Indira is capable of by giving her a season where she can let her fertile imagination run riot with every resource WAAPA commands. The result would, I guarantee, be extraordinary.
I am not going to spoil the impact of the show by telling you about how the design works, or how the "illusions" are created. The only way the true impact of this show can be conveyed is by going to see it. Suffice it say "Wolf Lullaby" is a triumph on every level. Artistically, dramatically, emotionally- we have seen the future of Perth theatre, and it needs an audience NOW.
Tickets are $15/$12 and can be booked on 9454 4620. "Wolf Lullaby" starts at 8pm and runs every night until Sunday Sept 2.
Eliot McCann
Company: The Caution Horse Collective
Venue: The Rechabites Hall, Northbridge
Date 28/8/2001
What do you do with the following? Three chairs, a doll, minimal props, three overhead projectors, a couple of stencils, four willing actors, a lacklustre script and a derelict barn. If you are Indira McDonald- you make magic.
McDonald's unparalleled gift for design adn disciplined direction has made this play a not-to-be-missed event. If you REALLY want to see what can made with the meagrest resources, this is THE show to see. In fact at this point in time, this is THE show to see; full stop.
Taking its lead from the case of Jamie Bolger, "Wolf Lullaby" asks its audience to contemplate what drives the "innocent" children to be so cruel, so brutal. Are they really capable of killing without remorse? What does this do to the child? What does it do to the family?
Without dwelling too much on the performers (I say this due to the obvious bias!) all four bring out the honesty of each character, sometimes to heart-wrenching degree. Jamie Cant as Ray marks his return to the stage after an absence of six years (blimey!) with a well-tempered performance that is almost elegant. Nice to see a cop not played in the time-honoured Tony Martin "Wildside" style.
Craig Williams as Warren was superb as the bewildered father. Warren's struggle to grasp the possibility his daughter may be a murderer was genuine at every instance, and very touching to see a "bloke" played with such empathy.
It was a delight to see Jenny McCann onstage again, after her leave of absence. It was also a delight to hear these lines ACTED, as opposed to running them with her on a nightly basis!! I will say nothing of Jenny's performance (not really my place), but those who know her past work will not be disappointed with her role.
Amanda Crewes was ASTONISHING!!! I was waiting to see how the issue of an adult playing a nine-year-old would be handled; the answer is "with aplomb". Amanda carries off this feat with such conviction that it is difficult to reconcile the knowledge of her true age with the little girl depicted onstage. Nothing over the top- just enough to make the daughter Lizzie "real". I'm still at a loss to figure how Amanda did this; I envy your performance dreadfully.
"Wolf Lullaby" is what I am led to believe is known as an "unsupported assessment" for Indira's final year at WAAPA. Which begs the question; what on earth could she do with a "supported" environment? And all things being equal WAAPA, if they have any sense, should see just what Indira is capable of by giving her a season where she can let her fertile imagination run riot with every resource WAAPA commands. The result would, I guarantee, be extraordinary.
I am not going to spoil the impact of the show by telling you about how the design works, or how the "illusions" are created. The only way the true impact of this show can be conveyed is by going to see it. Suffice it say "Wolf Lullaby" is a triumph on every level. Artistically, dramatically, emotionally- we have seen the future of Perth theatre, and it needs an audience NOW.
Tickets are $15/$12 and can be booked on 9454 4620. "Wolf Lullaby" starts at 8pm and runs every night until Sunday Sept 2.
Eliot McCann
RE: WOLF LULLABY - Be warned...
Wed, 29 Aug 2001, 08:57 amWalter Plinge
....this play WILL move you. You WILL NOT leave this unaffected. It WILL keep creeping back into your mind and haunting you. And you WILL be forced to confront subject matter so chilling, it is almost unspeakable. The issue of children murdering children.
This is the kind of play that asks far more questions than it answers. The "What If's..", "What would you do...",
"Could you recover..." etc. There are in fact no answers, no hope of redemption, no chance of recovery, no real survivors.
The script though a little repetative in some areas, is beautifully written. I was greatly relieved that the potentially graphic details of the story were kept to a minimum. My imagination in filling in the blanks, was far more frightening than anything they could have portrayed on stage.
The set is an exercise in Minimalism. The script and the flawless performances were all I needed to be totally hooked from the minute it started. The use of light and dark whilst incredibly effective, was stark and bleak to the extreme. However, you couldn't imagine this play being done any other way. And who knew an overhead projector could be so versatile?!
Onto the performances. Jamie's "Ray" was convincing as the phsycological bully-boy detective, hell bent on the "truth". Craig William's "Warren" is someone we've all met. The disinterested, half-arsed, part-time father. "Warren's" inability to grasp reality, stand by his family or truly give a @!#$ made him quite detestable. By the end I wanted to bitchslap him upside the head!
But for me, it was the performances of the two women that took my breath away. Amanda Crewes' portrayal of the 9 year old Lizzie is astonishing. Hell, I can't remember what I was like at 9! How she pulled this off, I do not know. I was a little hesitant at the idea of a woman playing a child, but she did it, and beautifully.
And finally to Jenny McCann. I've heard tales of this woman's prowess as an actor for quite some time now, but only saw her perform for the first time last night. Nothing of what I've heard could have prepared me for what I experienced. She is quite simply, bloody well extordinary. Her "Angela" is a woman who has had to bring up a child pretty much alone. Again, we all know this woman. She is tired, she's heard all her daughter's stories before, she's heard all her ex-husband's bullshit before. What she is not prepared for, is the idea that the daughter she has struggled to raise, has turned into a murderer. The journey that Jenny take us on from the start to finish, will leave you speechless. The material is such that it would be very easy to turn "Angela" into a whining, hyserical harridan. At no time did Jenny let this happen. Her ability to play against the emotion is phenomenal, and incredibly effective, and by the end had me doubled over in my seat. This is a role that few women could pull off successfully. I do not have children, and yet I ached for this woman and the decisions she is required to make.
My hearty congradulations to Indira McDonald for her vision with "Wolf Lullaby". It has really gotten to me. See it people, if you don't see any other "serious" theatre this year, see this. Challenge yourselves, open your minds, prepare you hearts. It is worth it. It is amazing.
Julia
PS Ok, gotta say this......exactly how much bloody talent do these wretched McCann people possess???? Infuriating! Not only that, they appear to be starting their own Master Race, with the perfect Lil' Moo who is Master Davis McCann...........blimey!
This is the kind of play that asks far more questions than it answers. The "What If's..", "What would you do...",
"Could you recover..." etc. There are in fact no answers, no hope of redemption, no chance of recovery, no real survivors.
The script though a little repetative in some areas, is beautifully written. I was greatly relieved that the potentially graphic details of the story were kept to a minimum. My imagination in filling in the blanks, was far more frightening than anything they could have portrayed on stage.
The set is an exercise in Minimalism. The script and the flawless performances were all I needed to be totally hooked from the minute it started. The use of light and dark whilst incredibly effective, was stark and bleak to the extreme. However, you couldn't imagine this play being done any other way. And who knew an overhead projector could be so versatile?!
Onto the performances. Jamie's "Ray" was convincing as the phsycological bully-boy detective, hell bent on the "truth". Craig William's "Warren" is someone we've all met. The disinterested, half-arsed, part-time father. "Warren's" inability to grasp reality, stand by his family or truly give a @!#$ made him quite detestable. By the end I wanted to bitchslap him upside the head!
But for me, it was the performances of the two women that took my breath away. Amanda Crewes' portrayal of the 9 year old Lizzie is astonishing. Hell, I can't remember what I was like at 9! How she pulled this off, I do not know. I was a little hesitant at the idea of a woman playing a child, but she did it, and beautifully.
And finally to Jenny McCann. I've heard tales of this woman's prowess as an actor for quite some time now, but only saw her perform for the first time last night. Nothing of what I've heard could have prepared me for what I experienced. She is quite simply, bloody well extordinary. Her "Angela" is a woman who has had to bring up a child pretty much alone. Again, we all know this woman. She is tired, she's heard all her daughter's stories before, she's heard all her ex-husband's bullshit before. What she is not prepared for, is the idea that the daughter she has struggled to raise, has turned into a murderer. The journey that Jenny take us on from the start to finish, will leave you speechless. The material is such that it would be very easy to turn "Angela" into a whining, hyserical harridan. At no time did Jenny let this happen. Her ability to play against the emotion is phenomenal, and incredibly effective, and by the end had me doubled over in my seat. This is a role that few women could pull off successfully. I do not have children, and yet I ached for this woman and the decisions she is required to make.
My hearty congradulations to Indira McDonald for her vision with "Wolf Lullaby". It has really gotten to me. See it people, if you don't see any other "serious" theatre this year, see this. Challenge yourselves, open your minds, prepare you hearts. It is worth it. It is amazing.
Julia
PS Ok, gotta say this......exactly how much bloody talent do these wretched McCann people possess???? Infuriating! Not only that, they appear to be starting their own Master Race, with the perfect Lil' Moo who is Master Davis McCann...........blimey!