Review: Five Specially Commissioned Works With A Common Theme Come Together With Comic Timing In POWER PLAYS.

Thursday 22nd September, 8:15pm, Wharf 2 Theatre, Walsh Bay

Sydney Theatre Company's latest offering shares five new short plays, each sharing a common theme, in a fascinating and fun show POWER PLAYS. Specially commissioned works by emerging and well established writers Melissa Bubnic, Michele Lee, Nakkiah Lui, HAnnie Rayson and Debra Thomas share the central focus of power, and particularly a woman's power, in a varied set of stories all nicely stitched together by director Paige Rattray.

Initially, the broad, shallow stage of Wharf 2 Theatre appears bare, save for a sole old television playing cartoons illuminating a small patch of light at the rear of the stage. Whilst the first story utilises a very simple design of 5 microphones that have been hiding in the darkness, as the stories cycle through, Designer David Fleischer ingenuity at creating an idea with, for the most part, minimal props and set dressing, comes into play. Fleischer and Rattray have ensured that the transitions are entertaining as well, helping to maintain the energy and pace between the "chapters", as the stories are described.

The first chapter, WHEN VAMPIRES SHOP, by Bubnic, blends two different views on the power of consumerism. Michelle Lim Davidson presents the thought provoking ramblings of a dissatisfied office worker that believes her life will be better with a designer handbag. She presents the musings with a wonderful pace and texture as she justifies her need. The monologue is countered by Anthony Gee, Steve Rodgers, Vanessa Downing and Ursula Yovich giving the audience a glimpse into the process that goes into convincing people like the office girl, that they need their overpriced products. The quartet present the advertising brainstorming session with a passion and realism of the bizarre superficiality of the industry, exposing the power they hold over the general public, in particular, the consumer.

The second chapter, Lui's THE GREEN ROOM sees the action take place in a smaller box positioned on the broad stage. Yovich, as a television news show's Executive Producer is a powerful force with little tact as she deals with special guests (Lim Davidson), the show's egotistical talent (Downing), a young and terrified government Treasurer (Gee) and his horny advisor (Rodgers). There is so much happening in the 20 minutes and the dance between who has power, who thinks they have power and who doesn't want power unfolds. Whilst other works have a greater deal of realism to their delivery, by its nature, THE GREEN ROOM brings a sit-com feel with it and is the only work presented on a set that does not ask the audience to imagine the environment.

Lee's OFF CENTRE is the third chapter in the series and sees the three women dominate the story as Yovich and Lim Davidson are both food and beverage staff at a hotel hosting a conference where the minister for Social Services (Downing) is the keynote speaker. Yovich teases the audience with an unsettled feeling about the friendship she has with her younger colleague whilst still seeming like a caring and concerned friend. Downing is fierce as the minister that has a reputation for not caring and Lee Davidson captures the awkwardness of someone not used to asking favours being forced to beg and plead.

Rayson's HESTER BECKENBAURER'S GOOD FORTUNE is an hilarious piece of greed and family politics. With Downing as the aging matriarch, award winning children's writer Hester, and the remaining cast as her sons, adopted daughter and daughter in law, Rayson captures the selfishness of the children as they think their mother has gone mad and thrown away the family fortune. Rayson taps into the 'first world problems' of the upper class as Hester's well educated children hound her despite the indication that they've all got enough to support themselves and not rely on their inheritance. Rayson has made the dialogue seem like a caricature, further aided by Rattray's direction and the delivery, making the children even more unlikeable and encouraging the audience to side with the mother.

The final work, Thomas' FEMINAZI is a two hander between Lim Davidson and Rodgers and delves into the world of social media, politics and journalism in exposing who holds power, and how easy it is too loose it. Rodgers captures the sleazy politician with an incredible oiliness that makes your skin crawl and Lim Davidson presents the girl he's bought back home with an off the scales level of ditziness that makes her hilarious.

POWER PLAYS is an intriguing and captivating series of stories with each looking at the theme from a different angle and giving power to the women in the tales. It also showcases the flexibility of 5 fine actors as they weave through the stories, ensuring each character is unique and able to establish their persona quickly. Well worth seeing for anyone interested in seeing different writers approach the same topic and seeing new Australian works. The short stories also makes POWER PLAYS a great option for someone wanting to go to the theatre but not sure if they can handle the weighty long stories that usually make up STC's program. Hopefully STC commission another series like this in the future.

POWER PLAYS

Wharf 2, Walsh Bay

17 September - 22 October 2016

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