4000 Miles

4000 Miles
By Amy Herzog. La Boite and Mophead & Catnip Productions, with the support of QPAC. Director: Anthony Skuse. Roundhouse Theatre (in Indie format). 30 April – 17 May 2014

This totally modern family study comes fresh from a Sydney Ensemble theatre season. The la Boite Indie format also brings the audience close enough to become immersed in this family situation. The warm message in 4000 Miles will stay in the memory long after you leave the theatre.

Amy Herzog based Vera on her own grandmother. Diana McLean (Vera in this production) based her physical and vocal style on a dear 90 year-old friend. Is it any wonder we recognise old friends, quietly getting on with life, misplacing things, forgetting to put in the hearing aid, losing words and names (whatchamacallit is her favourite replacement). We take McLean to our hearts immediately.

Vera takes in her stride the unexpected arrival with bicycle, late at night, of grandson Leo, to her New York tenement. She has no idea how long he intends staying; nor does he. Stephen Multari creates a totally honest, slightly troubled, hippie type who just completed a long bike journey across the US. He is not anxious to contact his mother or adopted sister, or to talk about a deep problem troubling him. His story unfolds at Herzog’s consummate storyteller pace. Multari brings Leo to life.

Marty Jamieson created the sound design and composed songs to accompany brief scene changes; Sara Swersky designed the quirky lighting; and Aileen Huynh (doubling as Amanda and Lilly), and Joanna Downing (Bec) played minor roles while providing instant props at scene changes (a clever innovation).

Jay McKee

Image: Diana McLean – Vera and Stephen Multari - Leo. Photographer: Gez Xavier Mansfield

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