Kris Weber's World of Theatre

The Golden Age by Louis Nowra
Presented by Stonnington Theatre Company
Directed by Dan Green
Reviewed (July 1, 1999) by K.E. Weber
Cast: Sally Cuming, Dustine Barnes, Darren Watson, Daniel Allan, Yure Covich, Freya Nielsen, Bryan Cullis, Lillian Lewis, James McLaverty, Kathy Lucas, Maggie McInnes, Natalie Vella, Evan Richards, Karen Webster.

The Golden Age is certainly a powerful and confronting play. Filled not only with moments of bleakness and injustice but also moments of great tenderness, it tells the tale of the remaining members of a lost clan found in remote Tasmania in 1939. Peter Archer and Francis Morris, two young friends hiking through the wilderness, discover this group of genetically malformed individuals who have lost their language and the power of speech, communicating instead with primal grunts and strangely moving ‘performances' fuelled by the tales of their long dead ancestors. Francis is smitten by the wild Betsheb, and after the death of one of the group and the emotional plea of Ayre, the matriarch of the clan, the two men lead the group into civilization where Peter's father, Dr. William Archer, happily accepts them into his professional life and home. However, due to the political climate of the time (the play spans the years 1939 - 1945) the group is placed in an asylum, thus beginning the tragic chain of events that irrevocably alters the lives of all the major players.

Given the many scene changes - coupled with the time variations within them, and the power of the language - I found Stonnington's abstract set completely apt. A white backdrop, broken columns depicting a Temple (Greek mythology has a place in the play) up right and a cluster of barren branches suspended from the ceiling up left was the basic set, with props being introduced as required. Scene changes were swift and cleanly executed. Lyrical and dramatic sound coupled with effective lighting created just the right atmosphere with operation being spot on each time. Costumes were also effective - the almost threadbare appearance of the lost tribe's garb a poignant statement when compared with the fine apparel of most others. Direction was clean and neat, with a clear sense of purpose and understanding of the material being evident. Dan Green imaginatively utilized many acting techniques involving movement, vocals and improvisation. There was, however, a tendency to push the morality in the work too much instead of allowing the truth to speak for itself.

Acting standards were generally quite high and consistent, however, some were a little short of the mark. Sally Cuming ( Elizabeth Archer) tried but was never really believable, presenting a stagy and over dramatic performance. Her habit of punctuating each remark with an eyebrow movement was one that should have been broken in the rehearsal period. Dustine Barnes in his dual role as the tragic Dr.William Archer and the mad clansman, Melorne, presented a fine technique and strong vocals. Darren Watson (Mr. Turner/ George Ross) tried a little too hard and was never really in the moment. Acting opportunities weren't great, however, more could have been done with the antagonist, Ross. Daniel Allan and Yore Covich, as the two friends Peter Archer and Francis Morris, complemented one another well. Many scenes were played together and these were generally strong, both keeping the spontaneity of each revelation fresh - particularly evidenced with Francis and Peter's first meeting with the tribe.

In a very difficult and challenging role, Freya Nielson gave a committed and truthful performance as the unencumbered Betsheb. Vocals (from guttural sounds to a lovely singing voice), movement and facial expressions were used to great effect. The characters sad anguish was handled well and never over played and her moments of joy were almost contagious. In short, an excellent performance!

Lillian Lewis was delightful as Ayre, skillfully and believably making the strange language of the character her own. Bryan Cullis ably handled Stef ‘s physical and mental abnormalities, having to spend his time either prone on the ground, being dragged around by Betsheb or dragging himself around the space. James McLaverty (Mac) gave strong support as did Kathy Lucas (Angel), Maggie McInnes (Mrs. Witcombe), Evan Richards, in a number of roles, and Karen Webster (Mary/Servant). Natalie Vella, as the cold and unsympathetic Dr. Simon, also tried but was unable to find the substance behind the learned learns.

I enjoyed the execution of this production very much but would have liked to have seen it start on time (8.p.m. not somewhere around 8.20) and an acceptable interval time (not somewhere around 25 minutes). However, all in all a fine production from this young group.