A Perfect Specimen

A Perfect Specimen is a product of the Black Swan Lab, which may be described as Black Swan’s more avant-garde or experimental wing. This lavish, fully fleshed production brings great quality to the downstairs theatre at the State Theatre Centre.

The true story of ‘ape woman’ Julia Pastrana, star of a travelling exhibition, and her husband and exhibitor Theodore Lent, it is set during 1859/1860 in Russia as they travel with the show. Written by Perth born playwright Nathaniel Moncrieff, this is the West Australian premiere.

Frances Danckert’s lovely set design captures the grubby faux-luxury of the travelling circus and highlights the public nature of Julia’s life - the use of the double revolves is both practical and highly theatrical as befits the lifestyle of the protagonists.

Lynn Ferguson’s costumes give us well-researched Victorian elegance and show business shabby glamour, and help to highlight the fragility of Julia against the coldness of rural Russia.

Performances are very strong throughout. Petite Adriane Daff appears without transforming makeup to present the famously unique-looking Pastrana. She delivers an elegant, sensitive and mesmerising performance and gives us a window into Pastrana’s heart-breaking life.

Luke Hewitt is unnervingly impressive as the despicable Theodore Lent - giving him depth and power as well as a formidable presence. Lent’s lover, American acrobat Marian Trumbull, is very nicely played by Rebecca Davis, who also plays the very different Valeriya Nekrasov, a midwife, with conviction.

Excellent support came from an unrecognisable Greg McNeill as Cornell Wurlitzer and Igor Sas as Dr. Gregory Alyokhin.

This shortish (90 minute) play, tells an excellent story, beautifully guided by director Stuart Halusz. A very fitting part of the Winter Arts Festival given its wintery themes, it is well worth braving a winter night to see.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Daniel James Grant