Neighbourhood Watch

In a quiet suburban Melbourne street in 2007, wistful lost soul Catherine (Alex McPherson) is drawn into helping to care for an elderly Hungarian widow, Ana (Liz de Totth). Ana is prickly and independent, resisting efforts of an old friend to be sociable, even going so far as to have a large, aggressive dog to intimidate strangers. But Ana recognises the neediness in her neighbour and draws the young woman into her world. Over time both Catherine and the audience are beguiled by Ana’s stories of her early life and hardships in wartime Hungary.

With a dash of magic realism and vivid imagery, Lally Katz’s Neighbourhood Watch draws from the same deep well of unlikely intergenerational relationships as Tuesdays with Morrie and 4000 Miles whilst being both less sentimental and more deep than either of those plays. What makes this production a delight is the skill and chemistry between the two principal actors, Ms Totth and Ms McPherson. Ms McPherson’s Catherine is painfully vulnerable, pining for the boyfriend who left her. When Martin (Damon Baudin), the ex, appears, he is strangely creepy and obsessive, almost a stalker. Right from the beginning it is clear this is not a healthy relationship, the precise nature not revealed until later.

Ms Totth’s performance shines. Her Ana is enigmatic and tough, pragmatic and assertive, but above all, a story-teller. Tales from Ana’s life unfold as little vignettes. The design of these plays within the play have a dreamy quality, assisted by a simple stage, projected images and clever use of the rotating stage to create cinematic effects reminiscent of a panning camera. A haunting a capella tune is repeated by Ms Totth, Ms McPherson and Tim Sekuless (in the ensemble), tieing tragic scenes together, and a clever sound design incorporating magpies and suburban sounds completes the atmosphere. Some of the scene changes lag a little and the song choice is a bit incongruous, but in the main it works beautifully.

It’s wonderful to see a show where women dominate. Catherine’s flatmate, Ken (the portrait of millennial ennui, by Craig Battams) and ex-boyfriend Martin (Damon Baudin) are playing support to interesting, well-developed female characters.

Canberra Rep’s Neighbourhood Watch is less funny than the advertising might suggest, but it is a truly stunning, transporting work. Highly recommended.

Cathy Bannister