The Boat Goes over the Mountain
Wed, 11 Sept 2013, 03:22 pmGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The Boat Goes over the Mountain
Wed, 11 Sept 2013, 03:22 pm‘The Boat Goes over the Mountain’ is the latest fascinating presentation by WA playwright, Andrew Hale. This production is being presented by Happy Dagger Theatre at The Blue Room Studio Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, 53 James Street, Northbridge. The hour long, fast paced shows start at 8.30 pm, with the season running until Saturday 28th September.
Andrew is having a mid-life crisis. Feeling boxed in by his present life style he feels he needs ‘time-out’ somewhere completely different. He had seen an 80s BAFTA nominated film, made by Werner Herzog, about a would-be rubber baron Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald. He was an Irishman, known in Peru as Fitzcarraldo, who hauled a 320-ton steamship over a 40 degree steep hill in order to access a rich rubber territory. Could this be the stimulation and life-changing experience that Andrew was desperate to have?
Andrew packed his bags and set off on the 16,000 kms trip to Peru, then on to the gateway to the Amazon, Iquitos. Onwards to the jungle huts, where he was to receive a welcome drink of the dreaded hallucinogenic Ayahuasca from the Curandera.
He then recalls the series of nine punishing Ayahuasca ceremonies. Will he return to Perth a new man, or destroyed by his experiences?
Happy Dagger’s Artistic Director and performer, Andrew Hale developed the piece beautifully. With the music of Dave Richardson, who played percussion on the scenery’s wooden frame work as though it was a xylophone and then accompanied on acoustic guitar. Dave joined in as an ‘extra’ and Andrew’s conscience. There were a couple of songs, superb original musical background that was blended with the natural sounds of the rain forest. The effect was outstanding.
The lighting effects gave the dappled flicker of light filtering through the tall trees. Andrew’s story is well observed and constructed, and with an ingenious set designer, award winning WAAPA graduate India Mehta, the wooden cage that encompassed Andrew in Perth transformed into a ship hull and then into further creations before the end. An inspired construction, brilliant.
This was visually exciting, poetic in its dialogue, funny, gripping, musical and totally enthralling in the storyline. A most professional production; and from someone who has also experienced the Amazon, hilariously accurate.
‘The Boat Goes over the Mountain’ is the latest fascinating presentation by WA playwright, Andrew Hale. This production is being presented by Happy Dagger Theatre at The Blue Room Studio Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, 53 James Street, Northbridge. The hour long, fast paced shows start at 8.30 pm, with the season running until Saturday 28th September.
Andrew is having a mid-life crisis. Feeling boxed in by his present life style he feels he needs ‘time-out’ somewhere completely different. He had seen an 80s BAFTA nominated film, made by Werner Herzog, about a would-be rubber baron Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald. He was an Irishman, known in Peru as Fitzcarraldo, who hauled a 320-ton steamship over a 40 degree steep hill in order to access a rich rubber territory. Could this be the stimulation and life-changing experience that Andrew was desperate to have?
Andrew packed his bags and set off on the 16,000 kms trip to Peru, then on to the gateway to the Amazon, Iquitos. Onwards to the jungle huts, where he was to receive a welcome drink of the dreaded hallucinogenic Ayahuasca from the Curandera.
He then recalls the series of nine punishing Ayahuasca ceremonies. Will he return to Perth a new man, or destroyed by his experiences?
Happy Dagger’s Artistic Director and performer, Andrew Hale developed the piece beautifully. With the music of Dave Richardson, who played percussion on the scenery’s wooden frame work as though it was a xylophone and then accompanied on acoustic guitar. Dave joined in as an ‘extra’ and Andrew’s conscience. There were a couple of songs, superb original musical background that was blended with the natural sounds of the rain forest. The effect was outstanding.
The lighting effects gave the dappled flicker of light filtering through the tall trees. Andrew’s story is well observed and constructed, and with an ingenious set designer, award winning WAAPA graduate India Mehta, the wooden cage that encompassed Andrew in Perth transformed into a ship hull and then into further creations before the end. An inspired construction, brilliant.
This was visually exciting, poetic in its dialogue, funny, gripping, musical and totally enthralling in the storyline. A most professional production; and from someone who has also experienced the Amazon, hilariously accurate.