Above : Campbell Parsons as Darryl in MONSTER at KXT Broadway
There used be a great chamber theatre in Sydney’s east that is sadly gone, making way for more poker machines. Say no more…
The theatre was called the Lookout theatre and it was part of the ever populart Woollahra Hotel on the corner of Queen and Moncur street. The theatre was the brainchild of the lovely Andrea Baker, who was the passionate one and only Artistic Director, and ran of at least ten years. ( I’m not so good at time frames). Some great theatre took place there.
To access the theatre, one had to climb a big flight of stairs, always a bit of a challenge. Against the wall at the bottom of the stairs Andrea Baker had put up a very striking plaque which I always looked at. It was a quote from the great playwright August Strindberg- ‘All I need is a table and two chairs and one of the great conflicts.’
This is what we have in British playwright Duncan Macmillan’s play MONSTER. The set is bare bar a table and two chairs. On one side of the table is mellow, kindhearted school counsellor Tom. On the other side is out of control, spiky, working class student Darryl, the monster of the title. The great conflict is that Tom wants Darryl to moderate his behaviour, and to fit in with his peers. Tom know too well that if he doesn’t change his ways, he will end up being expelled and be institutionalised.
Darryl, on the other hand, doesn’t want to change. He has had a shit of a life, early in his life he found his mother dead on the bathroom floor from a heroin overdose. His father doesn’t give a fig about him. What should her care about how he behaves. He is an angry young man, angry as hell.
There are two other players; Tom’s girlfriend, Jodi. Jodi is sure that Tom is the one, and wants to have a family with him. Jodi is very aware that Tom is a frail type. They were living in the city, and an undefined incident took place that left Tom badly shaken. They decided to move to the country to have a quieter life. As Tom become more and more immersed in trying to rescue Darryl, Jodi starts to feel that Darryl is undermining Tom’s hard earned stability.
The final and fourth character in Macmillan’s drama is Rita, Darryl’s long suffering grandmother. Rita is very aware that Darryl is a right real pain in the ass. Still, she feels sorry for him, and how he has had to cope with his traumatic start to life. And he is family.
Duncan Macmillion’s play is classic drama; everyone has their position, and is fighting for it.
The performances are wonderful. Tony J Black, who very bravely came in the production just before the play started previewing, and was still on book, impressed as the sensitive, good natured Tom.
Campbell Parsons played the vengeful prat, Darryl. I know that the playwright and the director Kim Hardwk, were trying to get me to feel sympathy for him. Perhaps a bit at the end. But they were just crumbs. Plenty of people have vcry harsh starts to life but they don’t carry on like a victim, and a prat. Oh, I really couldn’t stand him. Vile.
Romney Hamilton gave a memorable, very sympathetic performance as Tom’s lady, Jodi. Linda Nicholls-Gidley gave a very authentic performance as Darryl’s very earthy, loyal grandmother.
Kim Hardwick and her design team came up with an unremitting stage world, compelling us to follow the action. Victor Kalka designed the set and costumes, Topaz Marlay-Cole lit the stage atmospherically and Charlotte Lemon’s edgy soundscape added to the tension.
Running time 1 hour and forty five minutes straight through.
If you like a powerful villain, this will appeal. A Tiny Dog production in association with Bakehouse Theatre Company, Duncan Macmillan’s MONSTER is currently playing the KXT ton Broadway.
Production photography by Abraham de Souza.
