Caucasian Chalk Circle

The Caucasian Chalk Circle is an often studied, and consequently an often detested work, but this production, performed by WAAPA’s Third Year Performance Making students is a dynamic, beautifully cohesive and sensitively performed incarnation, that charms its (too small) audience and is simply the best version of this play I have ever seen (and I have seen it many, many times).

Using a translation by Alistair Beaton, this is very much an ensemble production, as we join a town which is putting on a play for an expert from the capital. Consciously theatrical - all but one performer play many roles -with the central role of Grusha shared between actresses. Characters are wonderfully distinct and very quickly established and the pace is swift with excellent physicality and some moving musical moments.

Jacob Sgouros anchors the show nicely as the Singer - our narrator who moves the action and draws our attention to things unsaid. A lovely stage presence, singing and playing guitar well.

Lovely work from the three women playing central character Grusha (all also playing a myriad of other roles), all giving our heroine a strong sense of duty and commitment to goodness. Excellent performances from Clea Purkis, Beth Wilkinson and Phoebe Eames. The other consistent character is the child Michael - which is played by a puppet manipulated by Leah Sellwood, with Leah’s facial expressions also giving us an insight into the baby’s emotions. Puppet mentoring was provided by Kylie Bywaters. Love interest Simon is played with charm and depth by Nathan Calvert.

This show is full of strong, brief appearances. William Gammel and Eliza Smith shine as the self-obsessed and obnoxious Governor and his wife. Asteria Gao, strong throughout, is particularly sympathetic as the servant who is on the receiving end of the wife’s wrath, with Josh Kolos strong as Adjutant, Shalva. 

Lucia Merriweather gives us a great character flip as a farmer’s wife, while Lindsey McDonald is great as Grusha’s under-the-thumb brother Lavrenti.

Ben Sullivan plays Jessup with expertise, with a great transition from 'nearly dead' to 'domineering jerk, while Shae Watkins gives a nicely crafted performance as his overbearing mother. The Monk is played with lovely comic skill by Taylah Conway.

It’s worth waiting for the fourth act appearance of Azdak, cleverly portrayed with good humour by Lucy Wong, bouncing nicely off Delaney Brooklyn Burke’s police officer Shauva. The Fat Prince is played by Ray Teakle, seemingly channelling Leonard di Caprio, working well with Brad Pitt-like nephew (Ben Sullivan again).

Looking great, the show plays on a complex multi-level set and features a myriad of costumes with great use of colour - both well designed by Charli Strickland. Lighting design is well tailored to the mood by Jolene Whibley and there is effective sound design by Rory Niven. Performance making students have made strong contributions to the show in offstage areas, including assistant directors Lily Murrell and Jefferson Nguyen, the compositions and writing work of Jacob Sgouros, Lindsay McDonald and Clea Purkis.

Performance Making is a sometimes overlooked WAAPA course, but this production is testament both to the strengths of the course and the quality of performers it is producing. A very impressive production.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Stephen Heath