An Impending Rupture of the Belly

This Australian premiere of a rather black American play is surprisingly good. Housed in the small, but not particularly intimate Newtown Theatre, the production, from The Kings Fools, makes the most of the play and the actors.

The play, by Matt Pelfrey, is well-written. It won the Garland Award for excellence in 2008. The characters are starkly real, the dialogue economic, the themes – the fears and anxieties of contemporary society; threats to security; the increasing use of violence – believably developed, well almost! It is advertised as a black comedy and there are moments – and some very clever lines and interactions – that save the play from bleakness.

Stephen Lloyd-Coombs direction is tight. Dialogue is fast paced at times in keeping with the relentless pressure the characters are pushed to and this leads to some strong tension. Lloyd-Coombs also makes the most of the small stage and simple but effective lighting.

The acting is tight and very strong. Stephen James King, as Clay, the ‘hero’ begins strongly as he is interrogated about how he is to provide a safe environment for his expected baby – and develops that strength throughout the ninety minutes of the production until his final chilling exit. Libby Ahearn as his wife, Terry, combats his obsessive behaviour with similar strength. Jeremy Waters is annoyingly effective as his loud, pushy boss/friend. Dave Jones is irritatingly real as the neighbour who refuses to curb his dog, but becomes more and more vulnerable as Clay becomes more and more out of control. Comic relief of a kind is found in Clay’s brother, Ray, a failed rock musician, continually calling on Clay for emotional support – and money. Played with great physicality by Daniel Jacobs, this character is at once repulsive yet sympathetic, and Jacobs makes the most of the witty responses to Clay in their last scene together.

It was disappointing that there was no program and that the biographies of the director and cast were posted relatively high on a wall behind some furniture, so were hard to get to and to read! An A4 print out of that info would have been easier for the audience, all of whom seemed to enjoy the production, both from their applause and the way they craned to read up on the cast after the show.

This is a very tight, pacey production. It is bleak. There is language and violence  … and some humour. It is a play for those who see theatre as reflecting society and making audiences think. The writing is good. The direction is good. And the acting is very strong.

Carol Wimmer.

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