Kill the Wolf
9minds
29 March 2008
Black Box, The Arts Centre
9minds is one of the many fabulous independent theatre
companies hidden in Melbourne. Kill the Wolf is a script that deserves
to be seen and admired. I wish more people had the chance.
It’s hard to get an audience when you’re competing against
the Comedy Festival and your limited resources are fully dedicated to making
good theatre. Sometimes it’s frustrating to work in a creative world where only
a handful of people witness beautiful works of art.
I saw 9minds original workshop production of Kill the Wolf at Dantes last year. I was
curious to see how it worked in a bigger space and what changes were made. The
cuts and changes work well. The structure and arcs are tighter and we were not
as distracted by Rose. Thank
goodness venues like Dantes support new scripts. Like any work of art, plays
need an audience’s reaction to develop.
Tim Nolan’s writing ably reveals relationships and characters,
blends exposition with action, balances content with drama, and takes us to
unexpected emotional places. It’s well structured, authentic, original,
emotional, skilled writing. What more can we ask for? There is something
missing in the transition to the final act revelation and climax. The pace
falls slightly and maybe the coach needs to be foreshadowed more. The tennis
ball was good, but not enough to make the audience go – Ohh.
Lee Mason, Chris Bunworth and Marcella Russo all deliver consistent
outstanding performances. Each creates empathy, without ever making us feel
sorry for or their uniquely flawed characters. Lucy Freeman’s direction is atmospheric.
She ably blends the theatrical with the naturalistic, creating a work that
grabs your attention and sneaks up on you emotionally.
This is terrific theatre. Keep an eye on this company; I’m
sure there are even better things to come.
This review appeared on AussieTheatre.com
