Theatre is often a learning experience and Paul Gilchrist’s CATHERINE OF AVIGNON definitely fits into this category.
Gilchrist’s play, which is based on historical records, takes us back to the late 14th Century in Avignon, France. The Catholic Church was the supreme power in Europe.
We are used to the Papacy residing in Rome. Not the case back then with the then Pope Gregory residing in Avignon.
Gilchrist’s Catherine of Avignon, historical records show that she was known as Catherine of Siena, was a striking, brilliant, young woman of the time. She, with her confessor Thomas, goes to the Vatican of the time to talk to the Pope.
She hears voices, has visions, the full religious package. For a young woman to seek the counsel of the Pope was an astonishing thing to do, but then she was a very formidable woman.
Much to the chagrin of the deeply conservative and power hungry Cardinal and those in his circle, Pope Gregory receives her.
Gregory treats her with high regard. Catherine has one thing, above everything, that she wants to convince Gregory. Gregory has to take the Papacy back to Rome. This is where it belongs. Italy needs it to return, the poor and impoverished need it.
Gilchrist incorporates two players in the play mix, who clown around around and satirise the goings on in Avignon, a lovely touch, of-course, often used with great effect in William Shakespeare’s plays.
As well as writing the play, Gilchrist directed the work. Gilchrist has been a prominent playwright on the Sydney independent theatre scene for many years now, and together with his wife Daniela Giorgi, also a playwright, they run the Subtlenuance Theatre Company. Such a great name for a theatre company!
Gilchrist’s play is being performed in the mainstage theatre in the Meraki Arts Bar, a very intimate venue with a very tiny stage area. Sitting in the front row, this 100 minute play with its passions, power plays, intrigues. lusts and humour, packed quite a punch.
In theatre parlance it is a bit of an axiom that playwrights should not direct their own work as the general feeling is that they will be too close to it. No qualms here. Gilchrist’s direction was assured and didn’t to be too controlling.
The cast were all great, Shaw Cameron, Richard Cotter, Romney Hamilton, Shawnee Jones, Rosie Meader and John Michael Narres, with most playing multiple roles.
Gilchrist’s creatives of-course have limited room and budget to move, still there work is good; Rachel Scane’s set and costume design, Michael Schell’s lighting design ( Michael’s name seems to pop up everywhere in credits), and Diane Paolo Alvarado as intimacy coordinator.
Entertaining and thought provoking, CATHERINE OF AVIGNON is playing the Meraki Arts Bar, 231 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst until the 19th August, 2023. Performance time is 7.30pm.
