Garçon

Wani toaishara gave the audience the gift of his memory of events and people he holds close to his sense of self and his heart during an almost hour-long meandering monologue. He was by turn funny, alarming, sad, innocent and wise. His script is still forming and there were some awkward jumps from person to event and back again following his memories. In his opening performance he read much of the script and yet the characters he called into being were strongly drawn and compelling.

The story follows him through primary and secondary schools with unsympathetic teachers and other adults who are abusive, drug affected or just coping themselves. But there are very few moments of self-pity since the focus remains on how the children themselves cope and the bonds that are made and broken. Winding though the monologue is an exploration of the silence that falls on the powerless and the small spaces they find that they make their own.

On stage there is a park bench and some chairs which are cleverly used to create multiple spaces.  The sound and lighting is sensitively managed to add to wani’s words and actions.

This is not a straightforward “hero emerging from difficulties” story. What is offered is an opportunity to understand a little of the light and dark of human experience and to recognise some of the spaces in between. Wani’s words craft an invitation to think and feel deeply about ourselves, and our communities, and as the script is finalised and dramatized it can only become a very compelling coming of age story.

Ruth Richter

Photographer: Darren Gill