Things I Know To Be True

Things I Know To Be True
By Andrew Bovell. State Theatre Company of South Australia. Dunstan Playhouse. 13th May – 4th June, 2016

Directors Geordie Brookman and Scott Graham have joined forces, bringing with them a mix of experience, innovation, physicality and depth. In what can be best described as a family drama, playwright Andrew Bovell has brought suburbia to the stage in his play, Things I Know to be True.

The Price family are your quintessential battlers. With lives full of sacrifice and dysfunction, they are real and honest as they tread the line between love and hate, responsibility and independence.

The open stage hides nothing, from actors seen waiting for cues, to props and set pieces ready to make their entrance. The exposed performing space mirrors the vulnerability of the characters. Geoff Cobham’s lighting highlights key moments within the text, whilst his many glowing bulbs illuminate an otherwise simple suburban backyard.'

Fran (Eugenia Fragos) and Bob Price (Paul Blackwell) are the backbone of the family, parents who have sacrificed for their four children. Despite the fact they have grown and left the nest, the children remain the parents’ focus and main purpose of existence. Blackwell brings a relatable simplicity to Bob; his laid back portrayal is thoughtful and full of sentiment. Fragos is forceful in her delivery; her barbed responses are the catalyst for many confrontations. Although strong, her rushed manner meant that she stumbled on some lines, breaking momentum and flow; however this matriarch was not without her jaw-dropping moments.

Each child takes a different path in search of happiness. Pip, Mark, Ben and Rosie find themselves in distinct stages of self-discovery, each reaching similar calm in their return to the family home. Complications illustrate dynamics between family members; history is rehashed, old wounds re-opened and eventually they all find themselves united in grief.

Rosie (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) brings a naivety and charm to her portrayal. Her dance background is evident in her effortless physicality. Mark and Ben, played respectively by Tim Walter and Nathan O’Keefe, both display a vulnerability that lends itself to some poignant scenes and Pip (Georgia Adamson) is independent and without remorse as she rediscovers happiness.

What sets this production apart from any other family melodrama is its execution. The choreography speaks volumes with its display of unity - movement that highlights strength and accountability. Visually breath-taking in its innovation, Scott Graham’s influence is apparent throughout.

If you can stop your mind wandering as you make comparisons with the characters, you will no doubt be affected by this emotional tale of family and beyond.

Kerry Cooper

PREVIEW AND READ THE SCRIPT HERE.

Photographer: Shane Reid

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