Naturism

Climate change is a mighty issue to squeeze on any stage. Griffin Theatre has produced a good few climate plays on its tiny stage and, with the Stables being rebuilt, the company offers another in their temporary stay at STC’s Wharf 2.

Bushfires and killer temperatures is arguably our greatest climate fear in Australia; it’s become a regular horror story on our screens and stages. Fire in Ang Collins’ new play causes panic to a cabal of climate warriors living in a coastal forest. And that’s about it for serious themes.

Naturism is essentially a comedy, a satire on Generation X’s delusions and ineffectual responses to climate change. Two Gen Z puppies eventually arrive with even more cross generational jokes; and director Declan Greene doesn’t hold back on throwing the switch to vaudeville. And further, everyone is naked.

It’s a smart move having naked actors. It makes us applaud their courage and readily offer our empathy - and introduces yet another new line-up of jokes. Ray (Glenn Hazeldine) is a middle-aged guru hugging the Bible of his own environmental research, and resents being mistaken for a ‘bare-bottomed baby boomer’. He keeps secret his former zeal for collecting thousands of air conditioners which he thought he could turn on to solve the air crisis.

Sid (Nicholas Brown) is a troubled philosophy professor, while his partner, Helen (Hannah Waterman), is a mad academic who’s evangelical about the arts, and crafts beautiful hats.

James Browne’s set perfectly frames a verdant view through the trees and his costumes are inventive and character-appropriate, and theatrically lit by Verity Hampson. David Bergman’s sound is compelling, especially when the fires begin to roar.

An early ‘intruder’ to this cabal is young Evangeline (Camila Ponte Alvarez) , a comic airhead at first but keen to sign up for Nature. Next Ray’s nephew Adam (Fraser Morrison) arrives from Melbourne - who’s wasted all his inheritance investing in his personal ‘brand’. By the end, in the ashes, they seem to learn something.

Naturism is an entertaining 85 minutes of well-paced comedy, but despite a talented ensemble, their relationships need more exploration - to say nothing of those bigger themes.

Martin Portus

Photographer: Brett Boardman