The Lesbian Variations

The LB's consist of three short plays written by NIDA Grad and AWGIE award winner, Gina Schien. While ostensibly 'Sapphic' in content, these three plays address universal themes of sexual repression, love, lust, denial, impulsiveness, parenthood and manipulation. Alicia Gonzalez opens the proceedings smartly with a charming performance of Cake On A Plate, a solo piece requiring immediate command of the audience as a school teacher - which she most assuredly does. Gonzalez's grace lends itself to her character's 'stitched up' personae and Carnell's precise direction ensures she remains in tight control of the piece throughout. This is a deliciously written monologue which rewards the keen listener, but when called upon to switch gears from authoritarian, to sensually-disarmed (by the actions of one of her students) Gonzalez comes into her own. Nary a person in the room would have not absorbed the frisson. 

Gonzalez returns in the second bite-sized vignette: The Dyke Variations alongside a warm and vulnerable Laura Viskovitch. The struggles of early parenthood are treated with equal parts humour and tenderness. Tranter keeps the piece moving, while keeping strong focus on love connection between the two. Both opening plays provide a nice settling-in entree but it is the third play, The Punter's Siren, which truly brings this production galloping in, hands and heels all the way to the post. I cannot speak highly enough of Jacqui Livingston's riveting, exhilarating, poignant, pants-wettingly hilarious portrayal of a love-struck singleton, who finds herself at a racetrack gambling her entire savings on the chance of one single night of bliss spent with the porcelain beauty (a beautifully smug Viskovitch). The 60s setting, the script, painstaking direction, costuming and the chemistry between the leads, all combine elegantly and Livingston's balls to the wall performance (I'm sorry - if there's a feminine equivalent to that phrase I can't think of it) just about had this reviewer leaping to her feet at the end, but then she remembered that Sydney audiences aren't too generous with standing O’s. Livingston is Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Jim Carrey all rolled into one. Her's is a thoroughbred performance - and is most definitely the reason why punters have been barracking for more. It’s definitely the reason should do yourself a favour and see the return season in Mar/April. This actress is a bolter!

Rose Cooper

Images: The Punter's Siren -  Laura Viskovich and Jacqui Livingston. The Dyke Variations -  Laura Viskovich and Alicia Gonzalez. Photographer: Vanessa Chaperlin.

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