MELBOURNE FRINGE 2008
Mysteries
of the Convent '08
Peepshow Inc
25 September 2008
Abbotsfod Convent
I know I shouldn’t be calling favourites this early in the
festival, but it’s going to take something special to top Mysteries
of the Convent '08.
All tours should be as fun and inspiring as Peepshow Inc’s
tour of the Abbotsford Convent. Being
greeted with a mug of mulled wine and wandering this stunning complex at night
is worth the ticket alone, but the delightfully incompetent and perfectly
hilarious tour guide (created by Robyn McMicking) is an unforgettable bonus. She
reveals the special features of the convent, like the lead light window of a
man in a robe with a staff and a sheep – she doesn’t know who he is.
As the tour explores the buildings, they glimpse, watch and are
met by ghosts and memories of the convent’s first occupants. Director and
creator Melinda Hetzel worked with the cast to create a unique experience that combines
a deep respect for the history of the place, with a dark poignancy and a
loving, whimsical and often unexpected humour.
Puppetry, movement, live music and projection effortlessly
meld with the spaces to create vignettes and that are as close to perfect as
possible. By allowing the images to speak for themselves, Hetzel’s direction
lets the unsaid be as strong as the said, and creates complexity within the simplicity
of the story. Oil drop
projections, a nun with a cello, Geelong religious icons and ‘The Vatican Rag’
ensure laughter, but this absurdity and incongruity result in a beauty and
warmth that is irresistible.
Peepshow Inc takes us out of the theatre into a world made theatrical. Mysteries of the Convent '08 is gorgeous, delicate and inspiring. Make time to see this show, and remember to wear your flat shoes and bring a jacket.
This review appeared on AussieThearte.com
