WARNING: EXPLICIT MATERIAL
Warning: Explicit Material is a story about the complex relationships that exist between family members laden with expectation and assumptions. Meet Barry – played by William Zappa – an artist who was part of the creative vanguard in the 60’s and now lives in relative obscurity having escaped to the country and away from his family. Barry is visited by Daisy – Jessica Sullivan – who hunts down the older artist under the guise of using him as the subject for her final project at art school. Throughout the story we are also witness to Barry’s relationship with his adult daughter Alex – Michelle Doake – who still blames him for abandoning her and her mother. Warning: Explicit Material is the newest offering from Geoffrey Atherden, the writer behind the classic television series Mother and Son. It is a tale with a clever twist and since much of the story is reliant on this I shall refrain from telling too much; but suffice to say it is interesting and unexpected. The cast, beautifully led by Zappa, handle the material well and director Mark Kilmurry adeptly uses the Ensemble’s stage to bring out the best in the story.
Until Dec 10, Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli, $27-58, 9929 0644, ensemble.com.au
BY WHITNEY FITZSIMMONS
