New Two

‘New Two’ is now in Week Two. Each week this 60-minute production, gives us two or three different, fresh short plays as part of Summer Nights 2012. They are presented at The Blue Room Theatre, 53 James Street, Northbridge. The Wednesday night line-up is repeated Friday at 8.00 pm, next week will see two more very different plays.

Under the instruction of Jeffrey Jay Fowler, these couples have learnt the art of work-shopping an idea right up to the finished play. They have written their own scripts, acted and directed their own shows.

Book through The Blue Room Theatre or PICA to get your tickets for $5 off the standard Fringe World prices.

 
 

The hairstyle                Life for a young girl (Bree Stanway) is at its lowest point. What could be more uplifting than a hairdo, one that matches your mood, one that is fresh and exciting? However when your stylist (Ellen O'Connor) suggests the style from hell, can there be a compromise? 

 

This was a funny, well written play, with the tragedy and confusion of the young girl’s mind fighting the assertive, ambitious desires of the stylist. Two good performances.

 
 

A best friend               It is another day in the gym, and two friends (Michelle Trainer & Trushna Mahisuri) are waiting for their very best friend to arrive. She doesn’t turn up, and so they go ahead and start their vigorous exercise routine to the pounding beat of the music. There is then a re-run of the scene; this time without the background melody instead we hear the thoughts the two are having about their ‘best pal’. We soon learn that friendships can change if you are not there.

 

A great idea energetically performed. Plenty of laughs and cringes at some of the action.  A novel theme well carried out.

 
 

The real face               A mother (Renée Stansall) knocks on her daughter’s bedroom door and begs her to come downstairs where her friends are celebrating her birthday. However the girl (Madelaine Page) prefers her own company. She is shy and perhaps even an agoraphobic teenager, but most of all she has little faith in herself, not really knowing her true self.

Can her checkout chick friend at Coles or her Mum help peel away the layers of doubt?

 

Beautifully written and constructed, with contrasting characters having strong dialogue. This was Renée’s first play for quite a while, but she performed well in a tricky piece. Madelaine has, over the years, regularly shown her great skill at capturing the full character of the part she is portraying.

 

Three very different plays. The whole idea of the two creators and performers is quite an exciting innovation. An excellent evening at the theatre.