So Many Splintered Parts

This intriguing commission of seven short plays is directed and produced by Elaine Acworth and Shaun Charles (also writers in the series) with Jess Veurman as Associate Director and Saffron Benner as Dramaturg. The writers’ brief was to deal with today’s personal and political issues in just eight minutes and for only two performers – the brilliant Zoe de Plevitz (Cost of Living, Boy Swallows Universe) and Nick James (A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein). The resulting collection revealed a theme of fracturing of our complex world into many splintered parts. It was interesting that supermarket monopolies and self-serve checkouts featured in more than one piece.

The entertaining collection is designed to be performed together in any order, and Zoe and Nick bring the range of characters to life by blending drama and pathos with comedy and farce, with a detour to the theatre of the absurd too. The opening night performance began with ‘Self Check Out’ by Kathryn Marquet, which pitted the State opposition leader against ABC TV and his own wife who threatens to go viral on the eve of an election launch; ‘The Comment Section’ by Aidan Rowlingson created two obnoxious party animals from the bottom-barrel scrapings of the online comments section, hilariously portrayed as a shadow play; ‘Night Thoughts of an Artist’ by songwriter and music journalist Robert Forster showcased those 3.33am waking-in-fright thoughts that everyone tries to bat away, especially the artist, haunted by his own ambitions and imposter syndrome; ‘Hum’ by Shaun Charles takes us on a Brisbane bus ride via the Myer Centre, Star Wars at the old Regent cinema, and the bus transit tunnel; in ‘Life According to Rachel’ by Grace Wilson, Zoe is a stand-up comic at an open mic night, but it soon becomes clear that her quest to find a recipe for tzatziki is masking a much more urgent mission; ‘In Education’ by English teacher and writer, Sita Walker, shows two teachers navigating a tricky Parent-Teacher night; and in ‘The Watchtower’ by Elaine Acworth, a very modern Mac treks the Himalayas with mountaineer and hero of the Eiger North Face challenge, Heinrich Harrer.  

All the short plays are set in Brisbane, evoked perfectly with a clever stage set by Sharka Bosakovam using bold street directions that reflected the surrounding streets. Sharka also provided quick-change costumes. Crucial lighting was by Teegan Kranenburg. Musician Tyrone Noonan provided segues and ‘scene transitions’ via his quirky programmed electronic and live music, including a cheeky rendition of ‘Spring Rain’ the Go-Betweens’ classic by Forster and McLennan. I confess to a personal weakness for enjoying portrayals of Brisbane in story, song and on stage, so I really enjoyed this gig, particularly the mix of playwrights and their individual takes on the brief. So often these sorts of commissions are dedicated to first-time writers in the under-18 bracket; it was refreshing to hear from more experienced hearts and minds in this case.

Presented by creative collectives, All Forms Considered and Assembly of Elephants, the play scripts are published by Queensland Theatre and Playlab Theatre Publications.

Find out more: queenslandtheatre.com.au/plays/so-many-splintered-parts

Beth Keehn

Photograph by Nicholas O'Donnell