Midsummer (a play with songs)

Midsummer (a play with songs)
By David Greig. STC - A Traverse Theatre Company Production. Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. Feb 6 – Mar 10, 2012. Touring to Canberra Theatre Centre, Mar 28 – 31; Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Ap 3 – 7 & La Boite, Brisbane Ap 10 – 28.

At first glance Midsummer appears to fall into that category of a typical delightful romantic comedy which tells a tale of two people stumbling upon one another at a pub, falling drunkenly into the sack, shagging like there’s no tomorrow and then in the cold hard light of day realising that they don’t really have “chemistry‘” but that they really “like” each other.

However, the story of Helena and Bob is much more complex than that. Sure there is a lot of sex, profanity and drinking but underneath this are two 30 something’s who carry the scars of unfulfilled dreams, lost and broken hearted love and uncertainty over what the future may hold. This is a subtle and tender love story full of humour, bittersweet longing and a dose of reality that smacks you in the face.

Both Cora Bissett (Helena) and Matthew Pidgeon (Bob) deliver performances so lovely, sexy and truthful that they would make you turn no matter what side of the fence you’re on.

The structure of David Greig’s script is particularly fresh and appealing. The dialogue is slick, intelligent and very funny and the use of breaking the fourth wall is particularly effective as it allows for commentary and a deeper insight into each character. This is a play with songs - note it is not a musical. But rather the songs serve as a kind of soundtrack, sparking memories of the past. And Gordon McIntyre who describes Midsummer as “romantically bruised” has created a score that is just that.

Midsummeris for anyone who has ever fallen in love, fallen out of love or felt the need to be loved. It’s about having optimism and being open to love despite perhaps being wounded by it in the past.

Whitney Fitzsimmons

Images: Cora Bissett and Matthew Pidgeon. Photographer: Lisa Tomasetti.

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