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Theatre Review: The Bald Prima Donna

Eugene Ionesco’s 1950s play is one of the ‘classic’ Absurdist plays and is almost an instruction manual on what makes an ‘absurdist’ piece of theatre.

Presented by Max’s Masters
Reviewed 10 July 2015

Absurdist Theatre or Theatre of the Absurd is not the easiest thing in the world Bald Prima Donnato watch, except when the performers know what they are doing. Neither is it the easiest style of theatre to perform: it requires the performers to know what they are doing. The actors and director, Matthew Williams, for the most part, know what they are doing in this latest version of The Bald Prima Donna.

Eugene Ionesco’s 1950s play is one of the ‘classic’ Absurdist plays and is almost an instruction manual on what makes an ‘absurdist’ piece of theatre. It essentially explores the frailties of language and our every day experiences in communication breakdown; while also exploring the (then) British class struggle via Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr and Mrs Martin.

Williams gives us an almost Monty Pythonesque treatment in this production, with most of the actors handling the exaggerated movements and eccentricities of the script very well indeed.

Rafael Hynes-Bishop and Bethany McGrath are THE perfect upper class twonks, with Hynes-Bishop beautifully threatening to burst blood vessels with his angst and anger. The Liverpool Browns are delightfully played by Liam Vaughan and Steph Thom. Thom is all Merseyside madness whilst Vaughan has the best rubber face in the business.

As the Glaswegian “Thunder Down Under” fire chief, Jordan Pawluk strikes wonderfully hilarious heroic poses all over the stage. But ladies, beware – you probably won’t be paying much attention to how he delivers his lines.

As a bearded, long-legged maid, Shannon Eisenblatter, does fine, but his performance is a little more laid back than the others and he doesn’t quite match their exaggeration.

All in all, this is a very well presented production and a very good introduction to Absurdist Theatre. Try it – you just might like it.

Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Twitter: @briangods

Venue: Bakehouse Theatre 255 Angas Street, Adelaide
Season: 7 – 17 July 2015
Duration: 1 hour 10 mins
Tickets: $16.00 – $23.00
Bookings:  TryBooking

www.bakehousetheatre.com/

 

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