Between the Devil
and the Deep Blue Sea
1927, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Adelaide Cabaret Festival
2 July 2008
Beckett Theatre, CUB Malthouse
Between the Devil
and the Deep Blue Sea is a cabaret treat from UK company 1927. Part homage, part satire and all
passion, 1927 have mixed their favourite genres to create something
irresistible.
Imagine a silent film, complete with piano player, and the figures on
the screen come to life. It is utterly delightful - as delightful as Little Julie
playing homeless crack whore with a toy syringe.
The evening’s ten terrible tales were written and directed by Suzanne Andrade.
Her work is marvellously macabre, but she’s just so terribly nice. (Imagine the
love child of The Tiger Lillies’s Martyn Jacques and Emma Thompson.) Her
descriptions of “milk moon tit driplets” and “marshmallow excrement” are as
wonderful as they are wrong. Her characters are all familiar, yet so original. There
are plenty of surprises, and the twins in search of a playmate simply have to
be seen.
Esme Appleton and pianist Lillian Henley join Andrade on the stage. Her stories
combine with the animation and design of Paul Barrit. The interaction between
the performers and Barrit’s screen is stunning. I couldn’t imagine one without the other.
This show has understandably won heaps of awards and is happily trotting
around the globe. I’m not sure how it fits with the Malthouse’s vision of
presenting contemporary Australian theatre, but let’s just solve that by making
the 1927 company honorary Aussies.
This review appeared on AussieThearte.com
