Presented by Moore Books
Reviewed 30 June 2016
Two one-Act plays make up an unusual night of theatre as playwright and director Tony Moore tackles social issues in two very unique ways.
In the first, Noble Cause, the issue of free speech eventually gives way to the ultimate question of ‘noble cause corruption’ where a person’s passion for the issue becomes so intense that they will do anything to support it.
Brian Godfrey and Stephane Avril star in this static play for two actors set in the office of a local University professor. Interrupted by a man in black who identifies himself as government agent Mr Smith, the professor finds his assistant has been dismissed and his phones cut off, leaving him to face the intruder alone.
Their sparring is all verbal and we slowly learn of the government’s interest in Professor Linden: his arguments for an Islamic state are deemed to be a threat to national security, even though those arguments are being presented from an academic perspective. Their opposing views bring about a debate of safety vs freedom; censorship vs human rights.
Much of the argument is repetitive, as it so often is in real life, and the author carefully takes no side, providing a balance of views. The verbal sparring is delivered calmly by the two actors, portraying an intellectual debate over emotive bullying but Avril’s poor diction was compromised further by an echo in the unfilled theatre. Much of his dialogue is unintelligible.
Boiled Cabbage, on the other hand, offers more movement – at least by the younger members of the cast – and a greater range of pace and delivery. Brian Godfrey returns to the stage as Dad, alongside Joanna Webb as Mum.
It’s pre-World War Two but time ticks by in an instant in this absurdist comedy, with each turn of the page in Dad’s newspaper revealing the ongoing developments leading into, and throughout the War.
Their kids, played exuberantly by the delightful Shannon Gray and Jabez Retallick, head off to war and grow up in the process. They modernise and discover a whole new world while Dad remains in his chair unchanged and Mum struggles with her place in the world as she sees her daughter thrive through independence. It’s the birth of women’s liberation and the journey is exciting for one but seemingly unreachable for the other.
Rife with possibilities, Boiled Cabbage once again offers opposing views in a unique way but, on such a cold winter’s night, it suffered from overall poor pace and energy. More zest and zaniness circulating the static father would add a visual layer currently missing. It’s only when the children leap onto the stage that the play is momentarily taken to the level it needs to be.
It’s a sad state of affairs that Adelaide embraces the one-Act format during times of Fringe and other popular festivals but seems to steer clear of them in droves for the remainder of the year. There’s great entertainment to be had in short form, and these two plays show promise of that in future reiterations.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Venue: Holden Street Theatres, 34 Holden Street Hindmarsh
Season: until 2 July 2016
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Tickets: $18 – $25
Bookings: www.holdenstreettheatres.com
Disclaimer: Brian Godfrey is the Glam Adelaide Arts Editor.
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