Flake

In a small basement kitchen, somewhere in Hanoi, a seething drama unfolds between two old friends and a go-between. New Australian play Flake by Dan Lee, co-created by Chi Nguyen, developed and produced through the Red Stitch INK program, is directed by Red Stitch’s Artistic Director Ella Caldwell.

Murph (Joe Petruzzi) seemingly bumps into Duyen (Phoebe Phuoc) in the bustling night lit streets of Hanoi. She, on her motorbike, offers Murph a ride to his friend’s place, a rented basement apartment. Bob (Robert Menzies) lives alone, loves Hanoi and is eager to hook up with Murph. Mates for life, from their youth back in the seventies, now in their late sixties, they disclaim their real age, fearful of ageism discrimination.

Bob is lonely, crabby and feels his life has near-hit crunch time. When Murph arrives he turns into a bantering gadfly. Murph is the complete opposite; incorrigible, youthful and mad about having a good time. Unbeknownst to Bob, Murph is there for a reason. They talk of their children, marriage failure, historical Hanoi, the Vietcong, and the bludgeoning power of consumer capitalism. Their conversation is blokey and despite their apparent educated and enlightened lives, there still resides some underlying misogyny.

Duyen joins the play in the second act, where the cultural boundaries are set between her and Bob. She is in her twenties, born in Hanoi but now resides in Australia. Her cultural heritage she claims is Vietnamese, but she feels Australian. Duyen rebuffs her sentimental thoughts towards her old city, embracing her Aussie accent acting like ‘one of the boys’.

Flake is a beautifully intricate slowly unravelling story about family, tradition, and cultural values. Character driven, the play reflects on a bygone era and addresses the concerns of modern living in a world where technology and attitudes are slowly eradicating old customs. The three actors deliver brilliant, honest performances, providing superb dramatic interaction and energy on the small stage. Caldwell has directed a wonderful piece of theatre enhancing the dramatic tension with subtle finesse.

The set design (Jacob Baptista) is intimate and colourful, lighting (Jason Ng Junjie) is poignantly minimal and sound design (Daniel Nixon) is used sparsely; together orchestrated beautifully to provide intention with quality dramatic purpose.

Flora Georgiou

Photographer: Jodie Hutchinson