Review: Finding Inspiration In Reality, Lally Katz Takes The Audience On Her Journey to ATLANTIS

Saturday 4th November 2017, 8pm, Belvoir Theatre

In a world premiere, acclaimed playwright Lally Katz takes the audience on her entertaining, and at times bizarre, journey of self-discovery in her autobiographical five hander ATLANTIS. With an almost childlike aesthetic, weighty topics are explored with humour and simplicity as Director Rosemary Myers presents an engaging and amusing expression of Katz's life story and an exploration into the bewildering corners of her creative mind.

Drawing on the stylings of 80's and 90's sitcoms and children's shows that would address the audience directly, Lally (Amber McMahon) frequently breaks the fourth wall to share the New Jersey born Melbourne based writer's life. The audience meets Lally in her mid-30's when she thought she had everything settled with a boyfriend and a successful career, but her world is on the brink of crumbling and she discovers that she hasn't achieved what she wanted to by the magical 35. With her schedule, and her future wide open, she returns to America with the promise of visiting her grandparents and getting more inspiration for her writing but nothing is ever simple or logical for Lally who is somewhat easily suggestable, gullible and paranoid which leads to some questionable decisions but also puts her in the path of some interesting characters along the way, all of which Lally asserts are based on real people.

In keeping with Katz's desire to reconnect to her memories of an idyllic childhood in Miami before her family uprooted her and moved to Canberra, everything is presented with the innocence of childhood. The work is presented with a clean simplicity of 80's and 90's children's television shows with bold shapes and solid colours and easily identifiable costumes all designed by Jonathon Oxlade. Like pieces out of a box of blocks, a large circular raised platform serves as a bed, disco and surgery table whilst cylinders, curves and wedges turn into chairs, bars and boats. Lally stays in a constant 'uniform' of red blouse and green pants with striking silver sneakers whilst the multitude of characters that she encounters, played by Paula Arundell, Lucia Mastrantone, Matthew Whittet and Hazem Shammas, are presented with the obviousness of a children's' show, drawing on stereotypes to ensure characters are understood immediately from the hipster boyfriend Dave (Matthew Whittet) to the charlatan psychic Bella (Lucia Mastrantone), spaced out hip-hop, self-help enthusiast Electra (Paula Arundell) and the Mexican/Texan cowboy Diego (Hazem Shammas), amongst many others. Damien Cooper's artful lighting assists with turning this box of blocks into the various locations Lally finds herself whilst also allowing her to step out of the narrative and speak directly to the audience.

The work is for the most part sweet and comic as Lally shares somewhat middle class problems which make it relatable although it's debatable how many of the audience would be as gullible and paranoid as Lally appears to be, particularly throwing more money at a suspect psychic and agreeing to pose as a friend and dog walker to their Air B'n'B landlady. The characters she meets along the way are artfully constructed to give a quick grab of humour or wisdom, highlighting how much of an influence those moments with strangers can have on a life, helping form opinions and influence decisions. Amongst Katz's crazy encounters, the underlying commentary on society's self-destructive hubris, wrapped up in the Ancient Greek mythology of Atlantis is blended with concerns of global warming and sea waters rising, giving the work a weight and depth beyond the comedy, also suggesting that some of the wild ideas that people have aren't all that crazy.

The work has a fabulous physicality to it and Movement Director Sara Black has created some beautifully sensitive moments, contrasted with a hilarious expression of Lally and Diego's lust and her artfully 'terrible' dancing style. Black has also ensured that the characters that surround Lally are equally convincing in their physicality like Pop-op's (Matthew Whittet) frailty to the drawing out of the humour of the stereotype like the powerwalking Stonebridge retirement home resident and psychic Bella's insecure awkward teenage daughter (Matthew Whittet).

Amber McMahon captures the enthusiasm and vigor of a childrens television character as she expresses Lally's grown up experiences, creating an endearing and amusing characterisation. As the driver of the story, McMahon keeps the pace moving whilst ensuring a balance between the chaotic and the thoughtful moments. Paula Arundell is fabulous as the hyperactive Electra, capturing the frenetic New York pace in her tone and physicality. Lucia Mastrantone captures American Italian New York Taxi Driver with a delightful accuracy and gives grandmother Dossie a beautiful sensitivity. As Lally's boyfriend Dave, Matthew Whittet captures the characteristic hipster commitment phobic artist before swapping into the heartbreaking role of Pop-op and the hilarious representation of Bella's teenage daughter. With the more 'suave' roles, Hazem Shammas captures the confidence of the self-assured Diego and the dangerous seduction of the Panther.

Grounded in weighty grown up concerns, this lolly polish childlike expression of the thirtysomething Lally Katz's life is entertaining and engaging with its nostalgia for memories of a happier childhood. This tight, well-paced production will have you laughing with and at Lally whilst relating to some of her experiences and scratching your head at some of the other situations she gets herself into. ATLANTIS is a delightful piece of light escapism from a serious world.

ATLANTIS

Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre Sydney

28 October - 26 November 2017

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