The Forwards

The Forwards
Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou. Presented by Brisbane Powerhouse, Shock Therapy Productions and Zeal Theatre. Visy Theatre, Brisbane, Qld. June 14-24, 2017.

Like many in the arts, I don’t care for sport and I live in the city. So I wasn’t expecting to connect with a show about an AFL final in a small town. Yet there I was on opening night, enthralled by the energetic, entertaining and electrifying story of the ‘Pintoon Parrots’ and their struggle to attain grand final glory. At first, the story appears lighthearted, but like all country towns, you just have to scratch the surface to find the tragedy bubbling beneath.

The five actors (Sam Foster, Hayden Jones, Ellen Bailey, Stefo Nantsou and Rob Diley) slid seamlessly from one role to the next, barely leaving the stage for a moment. It was amazing to watch them morph between a myriad familiar Australian characters, which they played with heightened realism, outstanding physicality and a lot of heart. They deftly demonstrated the prevailing sense of community that exists in rural Australia, that can so swiftly change to gossip, betrayal and alienation.

Writer and director Stefo Nantsou includes themes of peer pressure, small town rivalries, violence, and the destruction wrought by young people’s over-use of drugs and alcohol without resorting to preachy monologues. Instead he shows us how these characters’ lives can so quickly unravel, changing from good times to heart wrenching tragedies.

The writing is clever, funny, witty, and insightful. It takes you from laughter to tears in a heartbeat. It was particularly impressive to see the playwright’s interpretation of the role of women in these communities. The seething undercurrent of threats of sexual violence, the archaic gender roles and the community’s eagerness to blame a woman for the men’s foibles were scarily familiar.

Technically speaking, the fight choreography was tight and convincing. Geoff Squires’ lighting direction was excellent at enhancing the mood and supporting the text. Often times the actors provided their own sound effects, which was both highly effective and amusing. The live music provided by the actors on drums and electric guitars added an extra level of excitement. Sadly, a few times it was so loud it drowned out the actors’ dialogue.

The set design by Stefo Nantsou and Sam Foster was cleverly evocative. Crushed up empty tinnies, VB boxes, and car parts semi-circled the rear of the stage where the guitars and drums sat. Just in front of that stood the AFL goal posts and a lined floor which represented the football field one moment, the local pub the next, and even the home of Julie (Ellen Bailey) and her father (Stefo Nantsou).

Ellen Bailey was absolutely brilliant in all of her roles, but particularly as Rabbit and Julie. Her honesty and commitment to her characters’ pain brought me to tears of empathy. Sam Foster shone as Hoges, was all too convincing as Cactus and did an outstanding job of playing Teddy without mocking or offending. That said, all of the actors were excellent. They were believable, hilarious and worked very well together to support the narrative and bring the story to life.

This play started its life as a high school touring show inspired by interviews with kids from rural areas in Victoria. It’s definitely worth bringing your high school drama group to see it in the Visy Theatre, or booking the show to come to you. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a tale for teens. It’s just as engaging and the messages are just as meaningful and relatable for an adult audience. The Forwards is a well-rehearsed, beautifully paced play packed with talented performers and wonderful teamwork.

Kiesten McCauley

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