TOAST

TOAST
By Stephanie Merriman. Director Stephanie Merriman Old Fitzroy Theatre Woolloomooloo. 24-28 September 2013

Ennui on toast

Sydney Indie writer-director Stephanie Merriman has created a brief tale about Generation Y gal Erika facing up to her rather vacant life; she’s homeless, loveless and penniless. Erika must shake off her ennui and take those small steps necessary to reinvigorate her life. The narrative spotlights scenes that demonstrate her struggle.

Various men and women float through her life, but they don’t really connect or impact on her passage. Friends chat and bitch, colleges blather, a waiter intimidates. But Erika is ultimately alone, emotionally unhinged and lacking vigour and direction. She must find a path to a more fulfilling life. Yet by the conclusion it’s not completely clear how well she achieves her objective.

The newish stage structure at the Old Fitz allows more flexibility with staging, whilst the programming structure of the Sydney Fringe means plays can only run 60 minutes and changeovers must occur within 30 minutes. So TOAST gets buttered fast and opens with a stage full of white packing cartons which set the scene for Erika’s departure from her home and also cleverly serve as receptacles for various props. The set is nice, but the pace is variable, sometimes energetic and sometimes languid. Perhaps that’s how life feels to Erika?

The story and characters are often engaging and enjoyable, the acting and direction solid, but the protagonist and her plight do not seem fully formed and important enough to really engage our interest and sympathy. Erika takes small steps towards a better life, but her problems and actions do not seem significant enough to warrant the telling of this tale.

Toast was an enjoyable taste of the Sydney Fringe.

Stephen Carnell

Cast: Kate Campbell, Sinead Curry, Scott Dias, Kate Englefield, Rhys Gillmer, Farah Sobey.   

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