Sleepyhead

‘Sleepyhead’ is a very sad and dark story, written by WA, award winning playwright, Nathaniel Moncrieff. It is being presented each evening at 9.00 in The Blue Room Studio, 53 James Street, Northbridge, with performances until the 10^th February.
Tickets to this 80-minute quality show can be booked through the Blue Room for $5 less than the FRINGE WORLD standard prices.
 
 
     In the Australian outback live a father (Alex Jones) and his two daughters. The elder daughter, Ellie (Amy Murray), is at ‘that age’ when she hates the world and is rebelling. Her younger sister, Genevieve (Louise Cocks) is disabled after a horrendous incident, and now spends most of her day in a wheelchair. The totally heartless Ellie has no qualms about telling Gen what a waste-of-space cripple she is. Genevieve’s only friend appears to be a silent, imaginary woman (Desiree Crossing) who keeps her company.
      It soon becomes obvious that the father is having trouble coping with the absence of his wife, and so he decides to leave home and go to the city for a few days. Where has the mother gone and what has happened?
      The local caring policeman (Adam Shuttleworth) calls to see the father, and can see the plight of the young girls.  He mentions a problem in the area, which puts fear into Gen but has little effect on Ellie’s routine, even when a strange girl (Kirsty Marillier) covered in blood, turns up at their door.
      What will become of this family?
 

This powerful gothic drama is wonderfully performed by the two main actors, Amy and Louise (sounds like a good title for a film). Director, Garreth Bradshaw, with his assistant Patrick Downes, manage to clearly portray the love - hate relationship between the sisters, along with Ellie’s apparent jealousy of the disabled sister that she mocks so much.
The tension builds beautifully, and the dialogue of the very different characters was well developed.  Amy Murray’s performance skills have come on leaps and bounds over the past twelve months, and Louise Cocks was superb as the downtrodden family member.
Many of the small set changes, although fast and efficient, seemed unnecessary and reduced the tension and interest that had been so successfully built up in the preceding scenes.
The muslin screen as a backdrop (designed by Pear and Stephen Carr) allowed silhouettes of what had happened in the past to be re-enacted. Some good lighting effects by Violette Ayad, and creepy sound effects by sound designer Willy Slade.
Disturbing, frightening and an exciting 80 minutes. Congratulations.