You Walk Away, And Never Once Turn Your Head
Paper Crown Theatre are from MUST (Monash University Student Theatre) and are carrying on the tradition of excellent theatre produced through the university union.
You Walk Away, And Never Once Turn Your Head is written and directed by Joseph Brown. Like most new works, it could start later and there's some self indulgence, especially with discussions about being a writer, but it doesn't distract from the guts and heart of the story.
It's about 20-somethings Felicity (Niamh Hassett, who isn't in the Fringe guide pic) and Jack (Edan Goodall) who live in the same block of flats and are both so lonely that they can't see their own friendship. Hassett and Goodall's honest performances grew stronger and more confident throughout the night and both brought a personal understanding to their characters.
They also deserve a prize and a hug for dealing with and overcoming the worst sound bleed ever. It's not easy to perform a quiet two-person drama with what sounds like a barnyard dance and biker-gang cabaret going on upstairs. It was distracting, but they made it work for them. It became like a punk soundtrack to the show with inappropriate music and unexplained thumping.
The Transfer Station
20 September 2014
Chapel off Chapel, Loft 2
to 21 September
The Transfer Station team are from Deakin University and are continuing the tradition of strong and original theatre voices to come from Deakin.
Seeing Monash, Deakin (and VCA) students performing at Fringe underlines how we have to fight to keep creative and performing arts – and all tertiary study – accessible. And fight to remind the powers-that-be and all the dull people who don't get "arts" just how important this type of study is.
The Transfer Station is inspired by a line in an Elizabeth Bishop poem: "The Art of Losing isn't hard to master, some things seem so filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster."
In a thick dark that's lit by portable LED lights, we meet Captain Sadie Croak (Laura Soding) and Fish (Steph Franke), who are travelling through an endless void in a ship made from the discarded junk they find on their journey to the promise of the transfer station. When they get separated and attempt to go on alone, they find more than maps and hope in Cous (Erin Hegarty) and Mole (Hayley Elliott-Ryan).
It's gentle, adorable and intelligent storytelling that's led by characters finding their way and discovering happiness, beauty and purpose in a world that looks like it was rejected.
Their design is created only from found objects that have been thrown away, and its keys, bolts, cans and treasures create the storytelling style, which is supported by a live soundtrack from Tom Bensley on guitar.
And there's kazoo, mouth organ and bottle music! How can anyone not love that.
Seeing Monash, Deakin (and VCA) students performing at Fringe underlines how we have to fight to keep creative and performing arts – and all tertiary study – accessible. And fight to remind the powers-that-be and all the dull people who don't get "arts" just how important this type of study is.
The Transfer Station is inspired by a line in an Elizabeth Bishop poem: "The Art of Losing isn't hard to master, some things seem so filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster."
In a thick dark that's lit by portable LED lights, we meet Captain Sadie Croak (Laura Soding) and Fish (Steph Franke), who are travelling through an endless void in a ship made from the discarded junk they find on their journey to the promise of the transfer station. When they get separated and attempt to go on alone, they find more than maps and hope in Cous (Erin Hegarty) and Mole (Hayley Elliott-Ryan).
It's gentle, adorable and intelligent storytelling that's led by characters finding their way and discovering happiness, beauty and purpose in a world that looks like it was rejected.
Their design is created only from found objects that have been thrown away, and its keys, bolts, cans and treasures create the storytelling style, which is supported by a live soundtrack from Tom Bensley on guitar.
And there's kazoo, mouth organ and bottle music! How can anyone not love that.
