Crazy Brave

Opening night of Crazy Brave felt like an homage to the very perceptive, insightful and unique individual that was Michael Gurr.   Many people were deeply saddened and disturbed by his demise at fifty-five and I am guessing, like me, are moved to better understand him.  So this production is timely.

Crazy Braveis a play about - well – ostensibly the politics of the Labour Party and about individuals motivated by a desire to deconstruct what we have to create a more ‘fair’ world.   Gurr looks at agendas and levels of commitment for the greater good; from a loving observation of the old school radical left to illuminating a sharp new anarchistic politics he paints as lurking in Melbourne at the turn of the millennium. This anarchism seems to be compensating for the waning vitality of the old school Left.  However with its rich subtext Crazy Brave is also about the deeper issues of what it is to be human.  Politics and identity appear inseparable for Michael Gurr.

It is very much a play of its era.  And a particularly courageous undertaking by Director Melanie Beddie - in view of the fact that Gurr used to work in close collaboration with Director Bruce Miles in the rehearsal room.  Beddie proves herself to be strong and capable despite not having the writer in the room except perhaps in spirit.

Crazy Brave, like most of Gurr’s plays, seems to beg for a stylized slick streamlined production.  This is partly because of the smooth musicality of his writing; particularly his use of beats – short pauses between statements.  Naturalism doesn’t cut it chiefly as there are perpetual jumps from scene to scene. Yet underneath the glassy façade are deeply and acutely felt concerns and very real innate, intense and messy emotions. 

Crazy Brave is a little bit talking heads.  It is best suited to a skilled cast, who have strong and well-trained voices.  There are vigorous eruptions in emotions, however any ferocity is expressed off stage and described for the audience.  Flare-ups are explained not exhibited - described rather then expressed.  For example Nick breaks into his ex-wifes house out of desperation to get in touch with her, under the guise of seeing that she is fine.  He talks about this housebreak as though it’s a perfectly natural thing to do.  But to an observer it appears to be pretty neurotic; he’s stalking.

It’s a play of its time – first produced 18 years ago.  It is hard to imagine the kind of disparate group of anarchist characters coming together today in a considerably more multicultural Melbourne where our livelihoods are going backwards financially and there is less privilege and a much greater threat of terrorism.  Apprehensions about the future seem to be driving us all towards developing varying degrees of debilitating anxiety.

Alice is Crazy Brave’s main protagonist.  She is a person who is vital and passionate and has her ‘heart in the right place’ however she is vulnerable and flighty and seems to stumble on causes that drive her.   She is passionate but not particularly articulate and though ferociously independent - vulnerable to manipulation.

The romantic old politician is played by Tom Considine in a marvelously clear and tangibly fleshed out manner.  He is a witty true believer.  His perspective is tinged with an ironic hindsight.

Grant Foulkes is an engaging actor, his character Nick’s genuine, quirky and obsessive nature is convincingly conveyed.

Alice as played by Sharon Davis appears to be just a truly nice and ordinary looking young woman.  Ms. Davis makes a good fist of the role however I think this characterization is missing an edge of ratty sophistication, edginess and urgency.

The other three characters:  Deborah played by Chanella Macri, Paul by Benjamin Nichol and Jim by Andrew Carolane are well fleshed out.

Over all Crazy Brave exhibits a restrained quality that could be mistaken for a dry sensibility and yet at the same time it is a very emotional and moving work.

Suzanne Sandow

Credits

Director – Melanie Beddie

Set and Costume Design – Jessie Keyes

Lighting Design – Bronwyn Pringle

Sound Design – Sydney Millar

Video – Mitchell Piera

Cast

Harold – Tom Considine

Nick – Grant Foulkes

Alice – Sharon Davis

Deborah – Chanella Macri

Paul – Bejamin Nichol

Jim - Andrew Carolane