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The Unexpected Man.
In a train heading from Frankfurt to Paris an introspective
novelist is seated across from a bashful devotee in this, one
of the final freelance offerings of Director Michael Hill at
Holden Street Theatres. From French playwright Yesmina Reza,
writer of the international sensation 'ART', comes 'The Unexpected
Man'. Whilst the situation that the characters find themselves
in, in the play, is quite straightforward, the play also allows
the investigation of the issues that people, unbeknownst to
others, are working through. 'The Unexpected Man' provides a
unique opportunity to access the contemplations of idol and
fan during their chance meeting.
It is this element; the possibility of finding out what makes people tick which intrigues Hill and will no doubt interest the audience.
"Rather than trying to work out what people are thinking you're actually getting just what they're thinking, in this banal context of a train carriage, and all the wild and wonderful thoughts that they have, particularly while the woman [fan] is trying to get up the courage to talk to this man."
The audience is seated in traverse (on two sides) in the inviting Holden Street Theatre, and this encourages the observer to feel even more present and involved in the event of the meeting of these two characters, than the play alone.
"It really adds to the intimacy of the show," says Hill.
Coupled with a great director, play, and venue is of course a great cast. Selected for the role of the fan is the "wonderfully versatile" actress Caroline Mignone. The characters in the play being French, Mignone also provided Hill with the prospect of being able to cast an actress of French heritage.
"It has a very European sensibility about it, and so I think there was a great deal of that that she could bring to that role."
Reciting the inner meditations of the novelist character, opposite Mignone, is actor Rob MacPherson.
"Rob MacPherson I saw doing a one man show called 'Fully Committed' and he was astonishingly adept at holding an audience's attention, he played about forty-three different characters in this one man show, and given that 'The Unexpected Man' requires a lot of work on monologues I knew he'd be really good for that having seen that other show."
From 'The Unexpected Man' Michael Hill moves on to his appointment as Associate Director at the State Theatre Company of South Australia; but not before mentioning the importance of supporting live theatre, and initiatives like Holden Street Theatres, in Adelaide.
"The initiative is a great idea; the venue's about two years old now and has produced some great productions, so we'd encourage people to come and support what's still a new fresh venue in Adelaide for live theatre."
This is a play that will be enjoyed by anyone who is wondering just what that stranger opposite might be thinking about them, or what they themselves might do in the presence of their idol.
Emema Sifa
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'The Unexpected Man' opens at Holden Street Theatres on Tues 12 April.
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