The Window
Director: Mark Bromilow
Bakehouse Theatre
Until Sun 2 March


'The Window' has already made its mark internationally, having represented Australia at the 2006 Japan-Australia Year of Exchange, and rightly winning The Japan Times Best Design award.

An ensemble generated work, the notion of a window is used extensively in multi media projection and in the very approach of its key characters to their lives, Josie, played by Julie Eckersley and her host of other male characters played by Jo Turner.

Josie seeks to makes sense of her relationship with an estranged father, the break up of a long term relationship the day she announces she's pregnant, and the mystery of her mother's disappearance. It is very much about so many different stories.
It is a very beautiful work, filled a great deal of emotional honesty and much humour to recommend it. Jen Jackson's video design and Michael Robidoux's score allow this work to transcend the small space the Bakehouse is.

Eckersley is wonderful as Josie and Turner offers a wonderful mix of well constructed characters from archetypal odd balls to a fine performance as Josie's Father.

For all positives this work has, it is nonetheless a very commercial and clean piece of work which plays its material safely. There are no hidden surprises; you can guess the ending within the first five minutes. It holds no real wonder to it - which it seems to strive for but cannot reach.

David O'Brien