Deceptive Threads

The play begins with a wise old man in a halo of candle-light beckoning us into a world of tales and truths from the ancients through to the moderns.

Deceptive Threads is a magical and mysterious diasporic tale of survival stemming back to the late nineteenth century when a one brave gentleman left Lebanon to find a better life in Australia, performed by David Joseph and conceived along with director Karen Berger.

Joseph, a masterful all-rounder and an impeccable storyteller, delves intricately into his family history with colorful zest and passion. You almost feel you are on a magic carpet, with exotic flavors of the Middle-East brewing and open sesame secrets shucked open like a Pandora’s Box that will disclose the mysteries of the world.

Joseph has reveled in the opportunity to embrace the racist lineage of this country, imitating a series of leaders back to federation and the uncouth racial bigotry that they exude. Comedy at large and witty one liners encapsulate this sunburnt country with its brave opportunistic immigrants embracing the shores to make a buck or two, for themselves and their future families from then to now.

Yet the mystery of his ancestry continues and along the ancestry line he discovers he has an ASIO spy in his blood-line. Often hilarious and mostly fascinating stories packaged delightfully in a pseudo magic lantern set, are adorned by the threads harking back to his pioneering family.

And more exotic delights will tantalize your aesthetic sensibilities!

A beautifully conceived theatre production. l highly recommend the experience.

Flora Georgiou

Photographer: Ponch Hawkes.