Review: WE ARE THE GHOSTS OF THE FUTURE Invites The Audience To Step Back In Time And Meet The Rocks Residents Of 1935.

BWW Review: WE ARE THE GHOSTS OF THE FUTURE Invites The Audience To Step Back In Time And Meet The Rocks Residents Of 1935.

Wednesday 18th November 2015, 6:30pm, The Rocks Discovery Centre, Sydney

Centred on the days following the disappearance of famed aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, WE ARE THE GHOSTS OF THE FUTURE invites the audience to meet the varied inhabitants of a poor harbourside community in this Immersive Theatre. The tenants of the sandstone 'boarding house' share the stories s of their daily struggles as the visitors are drawn into their world, largely forgotten to the 21st Century outside.

The restored 1850's sandstone warehouse in the small back laneway in Sydney's historic Rocks precinct has been transformed from its 21st century use as The Rocks discovery Museum into a Boarding House which is home to a variety of characters. The audience is initially invited by a quiet young man to enter a small courtyard in which two women are hanging out washing that shows signs of the need for economy and resourcefulness. As the audience watches, we are made aware that the characters know we are there as the women comment on the "Nosey Parkers" standing about.

As the audience is invited in to wander around the two upper floors of the 'house' the radio announces that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's aircraft Lady Southern Cross had been reported missing, last sighted near Rangoon. As the momentous event in aviation history is occurring, we see lives go on. The interactions range from being invited to sit down and join a French migrant woman as she shares memories, the Erie recordings of a couple's perfect dinner to witnessing the horrific backyard abortions that were conducted for £3. In some rooms, the inhabitants continue their activities, in others, they involve the audience or they present their pleas and opinions to their visitors. Whilst many of the residents stay within their rooms, there are others like the well-dressed travelling salesman and the mischievous boy that move between the spaces interacting with the inhabitants from time to time.

The writers from 7-ON (Donna Abela, Vanessa Bates, Hilary Bell, Noelle Janaczewska, Verity Laughton, Ned Manning and Catherine Zimdahl) and Director Harriet Gillies have created an interesting work that explores those on the fringes of 1930's Australian society. There are stories of those that left country towns to try to succeed in the big city and others that are just trying to raise a family. Some have lost loved ones, are potentially are suffering the downturn in availability of work and those that are harbouring secrets that could have landed them in jail and worse. They are all characters that used to be common in society but have become forgotten as the city has developed and we are seeing the 'ghosts of the future' in their life, before they become fragments of our past.

This glimpse into the past highlights changes, and the lack there of, to society. The young policeman that has a penchant for women's clothes talks of a friend that is ashamed of his persuasion saying that "one day it will change I tell him, long after you're dead", and to a degree it has, but 21st Century society still has a way to go. The continuing struggle for Arts to get the support it deserves indicates that Artists and the Arts are still not considered on the same level as other pursuits in a similar way the artist is shunned by the women.

The performances range in conviction and believability. The seamstress is a stand out as she shares her story, which she presents as a continuous loop, talks of long hours, a disappointment and loneliness now that her sister has moved out and an awareness of the events playing out on the radio. Other characters seem to slip in and out of their character, particularly with accents not being maintained throughout.

Visually, Production Designer Hugh O'Connor, has been successful in providing enough visual and sound cues to recreate the 1930's. Old Arnotts biscuit tins holding pegs, worn fine china and battered hat boxes beside a writing desk all add to the transportation to the 1930's. The only exception is the modern footwear worn by the women we meet hanging washing.

This is an interesting, engaging work that shows the importance of understanding the past as we look to the future.

WE ARE THE GHOSTS OF THE FUTURE

2-8 Kendall Lane, The Rocks

Tues - Sat 12 - 28 November 2015

www.eventbrite.com.au

Photos: Phyllis Photography

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