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Dark Paths BudgieLung Theatre Fowlers Live Until 5 March Dark paths, indeed. Dark paths from the dark and clammy crevices in the dark cloisters of the unlit back rooms of the dark side of Stephen Sewell's mind which normally, like the rest of us, concentrates on sex and entertainment in more ordinary circumstances. Budgie Lung has a reputation for new and interesting works and fetched this one from the middle drawer of Sewell's canon. Written seven or so years ago, it is a triptych of trouble and troubled minds. The first panel has a young lady played by Rachel Paterson speaking to the audience as if to her married lover. Paterson plays us like a flute - one minute seemingly having the trump card, the next pleading for mercy. All very sordid and tacky as we caught her at home in a thin white nightgown and wearing the rubiest red lippy and undies. In the middle panel is another one-hander. The Easter bunny would not want to run into this guy. Sewell chose somebody who slithered out of a Louisiana swamp to give us his view of a top day with his mates. Michael Finney engaged his audience with direct honesty and threatening abuse about the sorts of things his character gets up to. The final vignette, with both Finney and Paterson, is truly bizarre - I can honestly say this is the most monstrous story I have heard in a theatre - maybe including the ancient Greek tragedies. It's difficult to believe that this is the same Michael Finney that had me convinced he was a suburban twelve year-old in Windmill's 'Bushfire' thirteen months ago because he looks and acts every inch a serial killer in this one. Young director Simone Avramidis took her task seriously and had her cast employ a natural style that engaged the audience in discourse. Set design by Casey van Sebille was everily lit by Chris Iley and provided a moody topography and texture. But the delivery of text was much enhanced by Heather Frahn's purpose-built instrumentation evoking 1950s suspense movies and other things sinister. Don't take a torch down 'Dark Paths.' Truly engage these characters and feel the danger. |
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