100

100
By Neil Monaghan, Diene Petterle and Christopher Heimann. Halcyon Playhouse, in association with Luminary Entertainment. Directed by Alison J. Kovacs. The Round Room, Carrington St, Hamilton Hill. July 12-20, 2019.

Halcyon Playhouse is a new theatre company and 100, presented in association with Luminary Entertainment, is their premiere production.

Performed in The Round Room, Carrington St, Hamilton Hill, the venue will be vaguely familiar to many Perth theatregoers, as it shares a foyer with the larger Memorial Hall Theatre, used by Phoenix and several other companies. The round room is literally “round” and 100 is performed ‘in the round’ or perhaps more accurately in a modified traverse style, meaning the audience are very close to the action.

The show is unconventionally lit, relying at least in part, on fairy lights - and its nicely decorated aesthetic, and a motif of empty picture frames (designed by Ryan S. McNally) proves particularly poignant. Sound is very well designed by Lee Wilson.

100 features four recently deceased strangers, trapped in a void, who are required to choose a memory in which to spend eternity. But what will happen if they choose incorrectly or simply cannot choose?

Kyal Wilkinson impresses in his first ever acting role as the intellectual Ketu, Jessica Shellcross is believable as the classy and clever Sophie, with James Dagleish and Nikita Harwood working well together as couple Alex and Nia. Lee Wilson and Ryan McNally complete the cast, playing the indefinable and mysterious Guide. Solid ensemble work throughout, with good use of physical theatre and movement.

It is perhaps unsurprising on one of the busiest theatre weekends of the year, that a lesser known show from a new company, might be struggling for audiences. The first Sunday matinee for this show attracted less than a dozen audience members. This well-thought out production of an intriguing award winning play deserves a better audiences. A great choice for those who wonder “What happens next?”, theologians, philosophers and lovers of fresh, interesting theatre.

Kimberley Shaw

Images: JS Photography & Imaging

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