Scaramouche Jones

Scaramouche Jonesis a wonderful opportunity to see veteran actor Colin Friels convey a complex character with splendid insightful skill.

In a very short eighty minutes, Friels captures and reels in his audience, entrancing with stories of the fictional clown Scaramouche, who has lived an exceptional life that highlights extraordinary events and happenings of the 20^th Century.

Too seldom nowadays we, as audiences, get the chance to watch our own ‘Theatre Royalty’ perform live for us.  In the intimate space of the Fairfax, with his marvelously trained body and voice, Friels is able to convey rich and detailed nuance that brings an audience to its feet for a standing ovation.

Last seen in Melbourne last year in The Faith Healer, an outstanding production from Belvoir Street, Melbourne audiences are privileged to be able to watch Friels again this year.

Friels does not seem to be ‘acting’ and certainly does not work with self-conscious flourish but rather lets Butcher’s very fine writing do its work through his well-modulated voice of resonant timbre.

Son of a gypsy prostitute and an Englishman, the fictional Scaramouche has lived a complex adventure.  He wears his seven white masks like the seven ages of man and gains each like a marvelous gem of wisdom honed through profound, challenging and yet at times tawdry experience.  There is much wonder, joy and many opportunities for laughter.

The set by Richard Roberts hints of circus and perhaps a ship.  To my mind it is a little dull, not that this is of great importance, although I am left with a nagging feeling that the space could be used to better advantage.  Friels’ costume, also by Roberts, has a lovely understated elegance about it and is beautifully proportional clown costume.

The lighting changes on opening night were a bit clunky and obvious.  This is something that I believe I have experienced recently in the Fairfax and am wondering if technical difficulties are being experienced.

Small concerns aside, this is a splendid opportunity to watch, marvel at and support one of our seasoned ‘National Treasures’ in Colin Friels.

Suzanne Sandow

Credits

Performed by Colin Friels

Directed by Alkinos Tsilimidos

Set and Costume designer - Richard Roberts

Lighting Designer – Matt Scott

Sound Designer – Tristan Meredith

Photo credit: Lachlan Bryan