The Return

Brittany Isaia fell in love with Reg Cribb’s play The Return as a Year 12 Literature Student, leaving it a clear choice as her first full-length play as a director. Brittany’s teacher Mrs Alexander Geneve was obviously very inspirational, so much so that the young director has cast her in this production.

The Return, filmed as The Last Train to Freo, follows the journey of the last train of the night travelling from Midland to Fremantle.

KADS’ set, furnished and finished with help from Transperth, is a faithful recreation of a Perth train, complete with posters, line maps, familiar upholstery and functional doors. An effective, immersive design by Owen Davis. Lighting was very realistic under the care of Mark Ramsey and Joy Miles.

The sound design (Mark Ramsey and Brittany Isaia) is extremely and necessarily complex, and was well timed by operator Eden Sambridge. 

Good teamwork from the ensemble cast. Cameron Leese gives a powerful performance as dominant ex-con Steve - with a strong emotional journey. Steven Ozanne strays from how I have seen offsider Trev played before, with a characterisation that works well, and is quirky and offbeat. 

Jade Gurney is solid as law student Lisa, in a performance with nuance and subtlety. Alexandra Geneve makes a welcome return to the stage as ‘salt of the earth’ Maureen. Matthias Pesch rounds out the cast with a community theatre debut as the nameless writer, who turns the tide of the play - a late appearance that is pivotal.

The Return is essential viewing for many Year 12 Literature Students and is something of a latter day West Australian classic. KADS’ production is a solid retelling that will entertain.

Kimberley Shaw