THE DEAD ONES
How can you pack up someone’s life into cardboard boxes? How should you deal with the death of a loved one?
Margie Fischer explores this, and more, in her autobiographical show, The Dead Ones.
This moving theatre piece is of Fischer as she clears her family home after everyone in her family passes away. It features the histories of those who left her behind.
“I knew I had to clear the house, and it was so overwhelming and emotional. The only way I could honour what was in the house, and the people in there, was to write everything,” she says.
Exploring the history of her family in Nazi-occupied Austria and their subsequent journey to Australia, and eventual demise, Fischer deftly uses personal objects, old photographs and evocative music to simply express the cycle of life and death.
“It’s extremely simple, basically I talk and read with images. It’s the oldest form of theatre there is,” she says.
Fischer uses her experience to tell a story that many people can relate to, but one that is rarely told.
“What do you do with your mother’s underwear? What do you do with the furniture your father made in his factory? What do you do?”
Fischer’s deeply personal storytelling is an exploration of memory, death and the importance of family. (SO)
Feb 18-22, Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale, $20-25, (02) 9351 7940, seymourcentre.com
BY SHAUNA O’CARROLL
