BWW Reviews: DETROIT Explores Life In The Suburbs Of Middle America

Tuesday 21st July 2015, 8pm, Eternity Playhouse, Darlinghurst

Lisa D'Amour's DETROIT explores the current issues facing suburban America following the Global Financial Crisis with humour and mystery as the reality of the story hits home. Whilst D'Amour describes the setting as an unnamed suburb in an unnamed Middle American city, Director Ross McGregor has drawn on the title, DETROIT, to influence the references and accents.

A rainbow coloured weatherboard house advertising "Bright Houses, Come to the Light" dominates the stage, flanked by a patio setting and a barbeque. Archive audio detailing Detroit's social and economic history, including the planning of suburbs which were intended to be communities and the failing auto industry plays as the audience settles in to the auditorium.

As the stage lights lift, the projection of bright colours on the weatherboard disintegrates revealing the reality of grey, worn walls. Middle aged, somewhat conservative Mary (Lisa Chappell) and husband Ben (Ed Wightman) are joined by new neighbours Sharon (Claire Lovering) and Kenny (James O'Connell) for an awkward backyard barbeque. The veneer of the nice middle class world is slowly chipped away as the sliding door jams, the patio umbrella breaks and the Ben shares that he's been made redundant from his bank job. This hard reality is matched by Sharon and Kenny explaining their history, meeting in rehab, buying outfits at TJMaxx (Australian audiences, the equivalent is Trade Secret) to convince a long lost uncle to given them a chance and let them live in the house next door.

The conversation is naturally stilted as the two couples appear to have little in common and want to keep the appearance of normality and politeness whilst Mary snipes at Ben, and Sharon becomes overemotional. The monologue that tips her over the edge ponders the changes in society and the erosion of the value of neighbours that you used to talk to and could 'borrow a cup of sugar' from also ties in with the planning concepts mentioned in the opening audio archives. The breakdown at this somewhat simple observation shows her instability, a trait we learn is not unique to her character.

As the two couples form friendships and rely on each other for support, the faults in their own lives, and society in general, come to the surface. Addiction, dependence, deception, entitlement, the need to fit in, and the need to appear successful and cultured all come into play with a reality about many of the situations the quartet find themselves in.

Lovering gives Sharon a element of innocence as she appears to want to be better and transform her life. O'Connell, gives Sharon's partner Kenny a very uneducated and uncultured air and a simplicity, not really being ambitious but being devoted to Sharon. Wightman presents Ben as a put upon husband hiding a secret and struggling to deal with a wife that refuses to admit she has a problem whilst she continues to badger him. Chappell captures the multi layered Mary from the surface impression of normality that she tries to portray to the alcoholism and the deeper seated desire to escape her life. Ronald Falk, as the elderly Frank that comes into Ben and Mary's life later captures the storytelling style of someone reminiscing about the past as he tries to explain the history of the area and help put the pieces together.

Benjamin Brockman's lighting allows for easy transitions between the passage of time as sunrises and sunsets fall over the house. The lighting gets more ominous as the story takes a darker turn. Jeremy Silver's sound starts with a lightness but gradually gets moodier in the transitions between the locations depicted by Tobhiyah Stone Feller's revolving set of Mary and Ben's back door and Kenny and Sharon's front door and back door.

DETROIT uses a liberal dose of humour, both in the text and in the physicality, to soften the blow from the harsh realities life following the economic downturn that affected much of Middle America, not just Detroit. The blend of comedy and reality make this an easy, entertaining night out that still carries a message.

DETROIT

Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst NSW

17 July - 16 August 2015

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