Reviews

Presented by QPAC, this Moogahlin Performing Arts and Sydney Theatre Company production of Jane Harrison’s award-winning The Visitors is a must-see piece of theatre. And it is the perfect choice to kick off QPAC’s annual Clancestry First Nations Festival as a piece that celebrates indigenous connection to country while raising deep questions about our past in a drama that overflows with humour and heart.

Locally written play Heart Lines examines a spiritual yet intangible bond between a heart transplant recipient and his unknown donor. Well portrayed by a young cast, this 70-minute play holds our attention throughout.

The play alternates between Noah, who is making a video message for the family of his donor, and a student share house, occupied by his yet undisclosed donor, and their friends. We begin to see connections spiritual, connective and actual between two young people on two sides of Australia.

You can understand why a good director would want to produce this play. Set over a six-week acting course, with drama exercises a focal point, it is a brainy text which focusses on human behaviour, that firmly tests the skills of the performers.

In between the lessons there are blackouts with  sound effect of those delicious warm-up exercises such as  mmmmmmmmmmm and  ahhhhhhhh.  I even took this as a cue for some quiet audience participation.

Many of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Series books have been adapted for the stage, and have somewhat of a cult following. The seventh Pratchett directed by Bradley Towton features many familiar actors, characters and even a familiar set.