Seventeen

Seventeen
By Matthew Whittet. Turquoise Theatre. Directed by Susannah Thompson. The Blue Room Studio as part of Summer Nights, Perth, WA. Feb 6-10, 2018

Billed as “Saggy skin, youthful dreams”, Turquoise Theatre’s Seventeen casts actors “over sixty” as teenagers celebrating their emerging adulthood.

Set on the night after the last ATAR exam, a group of seventeen year olds (and a tag-along sibling) party hard, but reveal their hopes and fears, explore crushes and friendship and realise that their lives as they know them are about to change. Writer Matthew Whittet’s device of using older actors allows us to see what lies behind the alpha male, the loser and the queen bee, and reveal the vulnerability beneath. We are more invested in their future, as we can see what they will become.

Vicki Billingham is compelling as “it girl” Jess, while Lis Hoffman has lovely depth as her friend Emelia. Colin Hughes shakes a move as popular Mike, with Tom Rees nicely layered as thoughtful mate Tom. Geoff Leeder beautifully reveals the sad story behind the awkward ‘loser’ Ron, while Sharon Greenock is lovely as annoying fourteen-year-old sister Lizzy, whose insights are key to her friends’ self discovery.

While a little shaky on opening night, it was clear that this would soon become a very crisp presentation. Some wonderful performers, having fun with a thoughtful and clever script.

Seventeen was a lovely show, which delivered on its interesting premise.

Kimberley Shaw

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