THEATRE: THE PACKER & THE GIRL FROM THE WEST

THEATRE: THE PACKER & THE GIRL FROM THE WEST

REVIEW BY JASMINE MCLENNAN

 

A whole scene is played out before me. The characters are diverse, developed, and the plot is action packed. Fast paced and witty with just the amount of social observation and satire, the audience are at one moment hanging on the edge of their seats in anticipation and at another howling in the shadows and slapping their thighs.  I am, of course, at the opening public performance in Sydney of The Packer, a play written by New Zealander Dianna Fuemana and performed in three countries over a period of 5 years, debuting in Sydney last week at the Old Fitzroy Hotel. The extraordinary element is however, that these characters (8 in total) are played solely and entirely (well) by one man. One very young man whose theatre credits would only fill a few lines on a page.  This stud muffin of a man is Jay Ryan. Yes you may know him from Neighbours, or more recently Sea Patrol (chiselled features, cute smile, six pack’). But what you may not know if you have not yet seen The Packer is that this man is extremely extremely talented. Beyond his years, and in many different areas. The Packer has already toured in New Zealand, Edinburgh and Australia in 2003 ‘ 2004 under the direction of Dianna Fuemana, however this time round, under the direction of Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (Sea Patrol, Heart Break High) it has walked down a different path. ‘I was a bit scared about attacking the script from a new perspective,’ says Jay, ‘it’s like that old saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But what Jeremy did for the script was magnanimous. He has really slowed it down.’ The Packer marks a significant jump back to theatre for Jay, indicating his need to express his raw talent. And it certainly does that. ‘People see me in a different light,’ says Jay. That’s true. And it’s a very pleasant one at that. The Packer is a must see production this year.

The Packer

Until May 10

Old Fitzroy Hotel

Cnr Cathedral and Dowling Sts, Woolloomooloo

$20-27

Bookings: 1300 GET TIX or www.rocksurfers.org

 

PREVIEW BY JASMINE MCLENNAN

The Girl From The West (GFTW) is the new social drama by Wayne Tunks that is set and performed in the heart of Sydney’s West. Catalyst Theatre’s debut performance, GFTW is Wayne Tunks’ sixth and newest contemporary play. A story of murder, betrayal, friendship and grief, GFTW follows the lives of 8 characters and their reactions to the murder of a girl they all know well. Who was the murderer’.. Will the answer be revealed’ Angela Beal plays Char, the mum of a teenage boy next door with an unhealthy obsession for the beautiful girl from the west. The story is constructed of 4 two-person scenes in which the audience get to know the characters on a very personal level.  ‘There is a possibility in each scene,’ says Angela, ‘anybody could by guilty.’ The show also has multi media elements. ‘Pre recorded tape sequences were developed showing our response to the news of the death’ says Angela, ‘we filmed them out in Blacktown so it felt very authentic.’ …”This is my third time acting in a Tunks piece,’ says Angela, ‘I find it easy to play characters developed by him. He writes woman so well. There are always great gutsy female characters.’ Char is one of those characters.  ‘She is a grounded earthy and well adjusted single mum,’ says Angela, ‘her son is her whole world and she would fight to the death for him. I relate to the character in many ways, so it flowed from the first read.’ Zoe Velez plays the victim Verity, Peter Flett and Anna Hruby play the parents, the son is played by Sam Faull and the housemates are Emma Harris and Ashel Adkins. Other actors include Alix Armstrong, Adam Yeen, Alan Lao and Scott Grimley. Check it out, but watch out, because in Penrith, where only the rough and tough survive and rivers run deep, you can’t trust anybody’

The Girl From The West

7 ‘ 17 May

Allan Mullins Theatre, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre

597 High St, Penrith

$25-30

Bookings: 47237600 or www.jspac.com.au

 

 

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