Presented by Lazy Saturday Productions
Reviewed 12 February 2016
Samuel Beckett wrote Roughs 1 and Roughs 2 for radio. So, the big question is: how would you stage them as plays? The answer is simple and blindingly obvious: blindfold the audience!
This is exactly what Lazy Saturday Productions’ producer and director of Roughs For Radio, Ceri Hutton has done. But she doesn’t just blindfold the audience when they are seated. Oh no, the audience are meet by almost fierce regimental, and literally very close-mouthed (see photo) actors and front of house staff who, after some intimidating but necessary rule giving, proceed to blind fold the audience, leading them into the performance space – we see nothing of the stage (if there is one) or where and who we are sitting next to. Rodney Hutton’s jarring, jangling audio helps maintain our sensory deprivation beautifully.
In fact, the whole feels as if we are in a deprivation chamber, but with very vocal strangers – and it works!
Beckett does not make sense, or makes 600 kinds of sense to 600 different people, but when you are forced to only listen, the words take on meaning to the listener that has some sort of weird clarity.
The voice and, we presume stage, acting of the five cast (Lindsay Dunn, Michelle Nightingale, Nathan Quadrio, David Salter and Petra Taylor) is superb.
Like Lazy Saturday’s 2015 Fringe show, Darkle, this is a theatrical experience you will either hate or love, but one well worth experiencing. This reviewer hates Beckett, but loved this staging (or should that be hearing) of Roughs For Radio.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Twitter: @briangods
Rating (out of 5): 5
Disclaimer: Ceri Hutton and Nathan Quadrio are both members of the Glam Arts team
Venue: Stomping Ground Studios 9 Stepney Street, Stepney
Season: 12 – 14 February 2016
Duration: 55 mins
Tickets: All tickets $25
Bookings: Book through FringeTix online or at a FringeTix box office (booking fees apply)
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
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