Blue

Joni Mitchell explored an intense breakup and new relationship through the colour ‘blue’, and Bob Dylan certainly paid some dues getting tangled up in ‘blue’, but Brisbane-based writer/director/lighting designer, Claire Yorston, uses her interpretation of ‘blue’ to tinge a rom-com scenario with a whole shade of anxious doubt. Her Blue starts with a corporate suited narrator – Reagan Warner (Young Rock, NBC; Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beenleigh Theatre Group; and Wondered, Mira Ball Productions) – taking a seat at the Sea U Latte café and telling us that this is a ‘true love story’. He describes a potential meet-cute between the barista – Hayden Parsons (The Great Gatsby, Villanova Players; Australian Open, PIP Theatre) and customer – Laura Renee (She Kills Monsters, Villanova Players; Playthings, Sun and Wine Arts Company) – which eventuates with some charming machinations.

Even though the couple have their differences – she is a council worker and he is a guitar-playing free spirt – everything appears to be going swimmingly as the young couple navigate becoming ‘exclusive’ and balance their experience of serious relationships. Reagan’s ever-present narration leads us through the story and intrigues as we anticipate his character’s intersection with the couple – his beaded wristband is a clue, clashing with his laptop briefcase and black business suit. As the couple’s relationship takes an arc that would usually lead to a fairytale ending, things take a twist and the dark reality of one of the partner’s true ambitions is revealed. It happens so slowly and unexpectedly that this elicited genuine gasps from some in the audience.

As the wiser, more mature character, Reagan lends his stage experience to give the play a steady pace and tone, with just the right undercurrent of foreboding in the poetic text. Hayden plays his romantic hero with endearing, puppyish charm – the boy who deserves to get his girl. Laura’s ‘perfect girlfriend’ hits all the right rom-com notes. The two leads take their characters through the relationship’s transformation with an intelligence that enlightens the audience about how subtle changes in a couple’s dynamics can lead to dramatic consequences. As we link the three characters together at the close – a blue gentlemen’s tie is another clue – the final feeling is sobering and haunting.

This is a young team – from the playwright/director to the performers – and they handle the material’s themes with maturity and respect. There was also a satisfying filmic quality added through composition and sound design by Ziggy Enoch. I would only suggest reducing the sound effects volume for intimate spaces like PIP Theatre’s Studio as they could distract from the dialogue. Sun and Wine Arts Company was established as a post-university project by Claire Yorston and Hamish Chappell to produce smaller, indie shows that illuminate real life. I think Claire’s Blue (her second original produced play) can definitely tick that box. She has given her actors an intriguing script to explore and communicate.

Beth Keehn

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Photographs: Sun and Wine Arts Company