Don't Say the Words

This is totally motorcycle unrelated. It is about my other passion: the Theatre, which had taken the pillion seat on the twisted road of life, as it just had not excited me as much as it used to in quite some time. In fact there had not been one show I've been to for ages, I would have wanted to recommend to anyone to spend their time and money on.

'Don't Say the Words' took me by surprise and has me writing this with a smile on my face and my trust is completely restored in our ability to produce exciting, boundary pushing, in your face theatre. Yes, there were some 'walk-outs'... which I find absolutely rude!... I counted three and by the looks of them they were clearly in the wrong theatre. A nice little musical would have perhaps been a more appropriate choice for those patrons.

I am so glad to have spent my Friday night at such close proximity to the outstanding work of some of Australia's finest emerging actors (Jack Finsterer, Anna Lise Phillips and Brett Stiller), who had me enthralled and following every minute nuance of their complexity as they place themselves above the gods. At every step of the way I was kept curiously engaged in their subtext, the tension, watching their carefully revealed story of love, war, betrayal, abuse and death.... Life and death.

A personable and charming young man, the director Matthew Lutton, introduced us guinnea pigs, the first audience to see this show, to his creative and clever direction of a difficult, fast paced piece of work. He explained to us that some areas may still need attention.

The amazing soundscape by Kelly Ryall created an almost filmic feel. It was haunting and woke a sense of constant foreboding, keeping us right at the edge throughout the piece. There were moments, especially at the beginning, when the volume was simply too loud and hopefully that will be a problem solved by designer and stage management before the show actually opens.

The stage design by Adam Gardner, a black tiled bathroom, for a brief moment surrounded by an opaque giant shower curtain, is accomplished and engaging and I felt that Paul Jackson, the lighting designer did have a difficult job to light the actors in this particular set that included a tiled ceiling and splashing water, which at times came dangerously close to affecting the electrics.... he succeeded to subtlety conquer the set.

My teenage compagnion summed it up in one word...intense!

I seem to remember that there was a language warning, however, (I've heard worse)...go... see!

BRAVO!!!!!!

Don't Say the Words @ The Griffin opens 4 July 2008