Tuesday 8th March 2016, 8pm, Wharf 1 Theatre, Walsh Bay
MACHU PICCHU looks at the unpredictability of life as plans and perfection are derailed. Sydney Theater Company's interpretation of Sue Smith's latest work asks the audience to consider how they'd react to a life changing event as we peer into the lives of a seemingly perfect middle class, middle aged couple.
The flexible Wharf 1 Theatre space is configured asymmetrically to allow the depth of the corner stage to accommodate two performance spaces. Initially, a fabric curtain hides the rear half leaving a stark corner exposed. The only details on the stepped corner are two plastic chairs and a wall of institutional windows and a door. This section is ambiguous and ends up serving as the stage for various locations in the central couple's memories.
Starting with a tense nightime drive, only indicated by the lights of passing traffic, we first see that Gabby (
Lisa McCune) and Paul (Darren Gilshenan) are having issues and are anything but calm. As they argue over quotes from Dante, realizing that health retreats aren't for them and yelling at passing cars, the audience is given the first glimpse that the relationship isn't perfect with the clichéd "it's not you, it's me" conversation opener before Gabby swerves to avoid a kangaroo and crashes the car. The accident has left Paul bedridden with severe spinal injury.
Directed by Geordie Brookman, Artistic Director and co-CEO of the State Theatre Company of South Australia (STCSA), the story flips back and forth between the Paul and Gabby's current reality in a hospital room and flashbacks to their past. Initially their life seems perfect, an impression shared with their friends Kim (Elena Carapetis) and Marty (
Luke Joslin) but it includes ordinary realness of youthful dreams and finding the balance of career and family. As young engineering students, in awe of the innovative Incan irrigation, they dream of visiting Machu Picchu but we see that life and other priorities have gotten in the way. Paul pursues his altruistic pursuit of providing for third world countries, Gabby becomes a lecturer and they raise the 'perfect child', doctor Lucy (Annabel Matheson) who also happens to work at the hospital Paul is recovering in. Now that their lives have changed, they each reassess what they want and what they can endure.
McCune presents Gabby as a woman used to getting what she wants and being in control who has suddenly had her life changed. For the most part, there is realism to her portrayal with a disjointedness that is understandable from a woman that has suddenly had her world turned upside down. There are moments of bizarre reaction which may be attributed to Brookman's direction such as when Gabby consults with therapist Lou (Renato Musolino), leading to McCune reclining on the floor, incongruous with the desperation and despair Gabby is expressing.
Gilshenan captures Paul's frustration at being trapped in a body that can't do anything and also presents the devoted husband that loves his wife but also wants to do good in the world. During flashbacks Paul is naturally presented with complete physicality but when returning to the 'present' Gilshenan conveys the anger and frustration from the neck up well. For the moments when Paul hallucinates and hears strange voices, namely his middle toe and dead music icons, Gilshenan conveys Paul's disbelief and confusion.
Paul and Gabby's friends since university, Kim and Marty are presented with less depth, due in part to the writing and the direction. Carapetis presents Kim as an overcompensating, self-absorbed try hard and to a degree, a caricature of a middle income, middle aged career woman. Some of this could be attributed to Kim's feeling of inadequacy given her inability to achieve the perfect family like her friends but even in the minor role, the characterization could be pulled back and given more sensitivity. Similarly, Marty is also presented as over the top, but in opposition to Kim's mothering, he hasn't grown up from the university hijinks. Joslin presents Marty with a disinterest in Kim's quest for motherhood and a lack of sensitivity to his friends. Whilst not explicitly clear in Smith's writing or Brookman's direction, Joslin could be drawing on the nerdy stereotype that engineers may be social awkward.
As Paul and Gabby's daughter Lucy, Matheson presents the young doctor and only child with a rebellious streak along with an imbalance from a childhood where her parents were focused on their careers and saving the world, potentially not giving her the time she needed. Whilst she loves her parents, there seems to be a disconnect and a restraint from free expression of emotion until it boils over in an outburst.
MACHU PICCHU covers a lot of emotions and concepts as an ordinary couple are faced with life changing events and Paul and Gabby are likeable and are relatable enough to be engaging and make audiences, particularly STC and STCSA's core demographic, want to hear their story. There are aspects that could be tightened and it would be nice if the supporting characters could have had more depth but the core love story and challenges Paul and Gabby face and the realization that your 'world' can change in an instant, is engaging and thought provoking.
MACHU PICCHU
Sydney Theatre Company
Wharf 1 Theatre, Walsh Bay, Sydney
3 March - 9 April 2016
State Theatre Company of South Australia
Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide
13 April - 1 May 2016
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