THEATRE: THE NARCISSIST
REVIEW BY MICHAEL FARRELL
After two sellout seasons in Brisbane, The Narcissist comes to Sydney this month as part of the Sydney Theatre Company’s mainstage program.
Speaking to Sandro Colarelli, who plays the title role, a week before the play’s Sydney opening, I was already half-sold on The Narcissist when he mentioned that it was set in a fictional Brisbane electorate called ‘Meninga’.
‘I’d never seen Mal Meninga before in my life other than on TV, and then since doing play I’ve run into him twice,’ says Colarelli. First sighting him at a cafe and then later at the petrol pump, ‘I kind of looked at that as a sign from the Gods.’
Colarelli plays Xavier, a Labor Party spin doctor, who arranges a duel with his best friend Bronwyn (Andrea Moor), an alcohol-fueled interior design columnist. The winner is the first one who can bag a man by new year’s eve, receiving a crate of champagne and an all expenses paid trip to Port Douglas. Bronwyn sets her sights on Xavier’s young, metrosexual flatmate Satchel (Jonathan Brand), winner of most eligible Barista three-years running and Big Brother housemate aspirant; while Xavier seeks to rekindle an old romance with Jesse (James Stewart), his lover from University. What he didn’t count on was Jesse’s engagement to the homophobic, Hillsong-esque litigation lawyer, Y’Landa (Judy Hainsworth). Madness, satire, and comic misunderstandings ensue.
The Narcissist has its inspirations and foundations firmly planted in French restoration farce, even the title revealing itself as a homage to the plays of Molière. The reality of the play is regularly stretched almost to breaking point by writer Stephen Carleton, with characters and plotlines getting lost in the noisy hullabaloo and general capering about that goes on all over the stage at certain times. But the cast are slick and funny, presenting the material in its best light, and capable of managing the few aberrations in a play jam-packed full of up to date social satire and a few jaw-dropping one-line zingers. Special mention goes to the superb comedic talents of Jonathan Brand as Satchel and James Stewart’s understated ‘awkward situation’ face.
Colarelli says that, most of all, he enjoys the plays cleverness and accessiblity. ‘It’s not a patronising piece, it’s not a stupid piece. This is one that appeals to my sense of humour because it’s clever and doesn’t speak down to audiences. Everyone from fifteen to a hundred seems to enjoy the play, so I suppose that’s the best thing about it’.
Due to the its popularity, a sequel to The Narcissist has been commissioned to take place next year, continuing Xavier’s story as he practices politics in Canberra. Says Colarelli, ‘when the last season was successful in Brisbane the director and the writer joked about a sequel and we said ‘yeah that’d be funny’, but now they’re saying ‘no no… it really is happening now.’ It’s a rare thing in theatre, it’ll be an interesting experiment.’
The Narcissist
Until October 4
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: $56-$77, 9250 7777 or www.sydneytheatre.com.au/narcisist
