The Road to Huntsville

The 2021 Wynnum Fringe Festival boasted a talented line-up of local, national, and international acts performing in a range of venues in the Bayside suburb. While a library meeting room might not be a producer’s first choice for a play, in a way it seems quite fitting for Stephanie Ridings acclaimed one woman show, The Road to Huntsville.

The narrative sees writer Steph researching how and why people fall in love with incarcerated people. In her quest to find answers, she begins to communicate with a Texan man, Jonny Demouchette, who is on death row for murder. She begins to find his letters exciting and alluring, which has a negative impact on her love life. That doesn’t stop her from travelling to Huntsville to meet Jonny and join his sister campaigning against the death penalty.

The Road to Huntsville is full of humour, heart, and drama. This gives performer Jacinda Mclaughlin plenty to play with and a chance to show her range. Director Elodie Boal is definitely one to watch on the Brisbane scene. She’s been consistently delivering top notch work for some time and it’s great to see her back in the drivers’ seat for this production. Dominic Guilfoyle’s technical production skills are to be applauded also, given how heavily the show relies on the timing of the projected visuals behind the performer.

Kitty Goodall