Switzerland

Switzerland
By Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by Paige Rattray. Queensland Theatre Company. Bille Brown Studio. 20th May-26th June, 2016

Ever thought of including a famous writer in a plot similar in style to the same author; perhaps a close encounter with your own creation complete with antagonistic algorithms and a series of eerie twists and turns.

Herein lies this kind of intrigue in this suspenseful play surrounding the final period of famous mystery thriller novelist Patricia Highsmith's life. She is a complicated character and the various developmental outcomes that stem from this fact are not always for the faint hearted.

I'm not sure if I agree with the use of a real person in a fictitious plot, particularly when they are the central character, but there's more than meets the eye in this play and the cast of two have enough substance in their characters to analyse, and portray. This is great stuff for the exploratory writer looking for something to really dig their teeth into. 

Andrea Moor's brilliant performance as Highsmith, in all her extremes, really captures the complexities of the novelist's erratic behaviour, while Mathew Backer as the quizzical character Edward Ridgeway, who pops into her life quite inexplicably, is superb. The sparks fly well and truly between the two and there are moments when you feel irritation and exhilaration simultaneously whilst pondering over the possible outcomes of this deep and twisted relationship. 

The author's ability at weaving the intricacies of the psyche of these two characters with an ingenious plot almost gets there, though one is left to work out ones own conclusions. I have mine but it's not my place to interfere with future audience expectations. Still, there are some great lines to reflect upon and plenty of pace, mystery and intrigue to keep you moving closer to the edge of your seat.

Anthony Spinaze's effective design, using blue tones, sets the mood deliciously as does Steve Toulmin's spooky score.

A thoughtful and engrossing play, Switzerland has more than one reason for not going alone.

Brian Adamson 

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