A Piece of Cake

A Piece of Cake
By Yvette Wall. Hackett Hall, Floreat, WA. 19-22 February 2015

This rather unusual short play is based around Marie Antionette of France, the day before her husband Louis XVI's execution.

It is set in a gaol cell, very nicely designed by director Alida Chaney, as we meet Marie, her fellow prisoners, and later her husband.

The play is nicely acted by Kerry Goode as witch Agnes, Andrea Fernandez as peasant prisoner Dora, Sean Bullock as Louis XVI and Helen Kerr in the pivotal role of Marie Antionette.

The problem with this show is that it doesn't really know what sort of production it would like to be. Yvette Wall's writing has moments of real cleverness, but the show zigzags between extreme farce and moments of genuine connections and between historical accuracy and unbelievably wild fiction, which do not sit comfortably together. Talented director Alida Chaney seems at a loss as to the direction in which to go - we see a beautiful tender moment between the about to be separated married couple, which is undermined because Sean Bullock is playing Louis Lord Farquhar style - on his knees.

A very hard working production - which was well received, but unfortunately did not work for me, despite the considerable talent involved.

Kimberley Shaw

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