Dead Air

Appealing to a smart young and vibrant audience, Dead Air, presented at the Bluestone Arts Space by Bitten By Productions, has all the hallmarks of an engrossing story that has been put together with clever care and precision by some inspired, up and coming theatre makers.  It was certainly worth catching.  (Apologies for not being able to get this response online sooner due to extenuating personal circumstances.)

Written by Tom Reed its pretty much a horror movie script for Theatre.  Containing many witty lines and touches, it seduces its audience into total believability and then packs an unexpected, dare I say supernatural, punch.

At the commencement of the show radio jock Daniel “Duck” Daffie (Jonathon Lawrence) is playing listeners, to his show ‘Duck Hunt’, the best songs to ‘wank to’.  Amongst his choices are: “I Touch Myself”, “Everybody Hurts”, and “Turning Japanese” – go figure.  The sound is almost as low as background radio and audience members feel the license to just chat amongst them selves as latecomers are admitted.  This is a slightly bemusing and refreshingly novel way to start proceedings.

The set up and premise is convincing, as is the set of a radio station – without the glass parts.

Like a film – the acting is controlled and contained and directed to a T.  This is not surprising as the team of John Steven Erasmus and Ashley Tardy direct assumedly in tandem.

Lawrence’s Daniel “Duck” has all the energy and loaded insincerity one would expect of a shock jock with a uniquely styled sleazy show.  His pretty hilarious masculine expression of lust, and most particularly the name of his show, is on the misogynistic side.  This left me wondering if a female version of the same would be less offensive but also less funny.

The female producer, of the following program - Carter’s Shadow World, is Molly played by Rebecca Cullinan as a strong erect, straight down the line, type of woman.   Her sense of control and responsibility is palpable.

There is something insidious and creepy about Justin Anderson’s character Clay Carter.  And Gregory Cain’s guest scientist August Mulholland has all the hallmarks of sincerity, of a man, wholly, deeply and fanatically committed to his area of study.

Rose Flanagan plays I lovely, fairly neutral - contemporary young woman Imogen Swoop who sadly becomes the guest victim.

Through the ether of the airways something very frightening, ghastly and powerful is unleashed.   Sound, as one would anticipate, with the work being about what happens through and because of radio, is very strong.  In fact all production qualities are strong.

Keep your eye on this troupe they are making some very impressive contemporary Theatre.

Suzanne Sandow