Ruben Guthrie

Ruben Guthrie is an advertising creative with the world at his feet. He knows everyone who’s everyone in Sydney, he’s engaged to a glamorous model, and his addiction to drink and drugs makes him spark with creativity.  With NUTS’ production and ACT premiere of Ruben Guthrie by the Australian playwright Brendan Cowell, the audience joins Ruben and those who know him in a journey through sobriety, pain, history and a hazy future. The intimacy of the small stage and limited seating of the Drama Lab heighten the emotional effect drawn by the actors.

Lewis Meegan deserves special plaudits for his portrayal of Ruben Guthrie, showing the large range required for Guthrie, from being irritatingly self-absorbed to the trip to a dark, painful history, and its echoes in a much later scene.  With Ruben, we travel through the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, meeting his mentor Virginia (played by Alexandra Davis), his mother (played amusingly by Jessica Symonds) and his alcoholic-in-denial father (played by Dean Batten with verve and humour).  Gabrielle Dutton is Zoya, the dramatic Czech supermodel. Michael Bones plays Ray from the ad agency.  Alex Battye is full of energy as Ruben’s long-time friend Damian.

The set is a constant reminder of the fight that Ruben has on his hands while seeking sobriety, with various bottles lining neat shelves. Lighting is carefully designed around the limited space, delineating places and mood to good effect.

Ruben Guthrie is a challenging, confronting play. There are a lot of uncomfortable themes that are explored in this play and the playwright has avoided providing a pat answer to big questions.  Furthermore, while there are moments where members of the audience squirm in their seats in discomfort, there are also side-splittingly hilarious moments. Congratulations to NUTS.

Rachel McGrath-Kerr