This is the first time I have been to Belvoir Street Theatre since Covid 19 struck back in March to devastating effect, dramatically effecting the arts community.
Like many theatregoers I have missed the regular visits to Belvoir, one of Sydney’s premier, sacred theatre venues.
The show is Kendall Feaver’s stage adaptation of Miles Franklin’s classic Australian novel ‘My Brilliant Career’(1901) directed by acclaimed director Kate Champion.
Miles Franklin’s novel is essentially autobiographical, she is the main character, Sybylla. We follow her journey through adolescence and young adulthood to the brink of her writing career as she starts filling up her notebooks with her literary observations.
Feaver and Champion combine to come up with a deeply theatrical production. The Belvoir stage is left free, for the actors to tell the story, apart from a few chairs and a piano. The lead actress is the only actor playing a solo role, All the other actors play multiple roles very deftly from young kids mucking around to frail grandparents.
Nikki Shiels is outstanding as Sybylla. It is a memorable portrayal of one of Australia’s first feminist women who believed that a woman’s life did not have to revolve around men, marriage and children. Sybylla startled people at the time- the latter part of the nineteenth century- when she espoused that a woman could make a life of her own and pursue a career. One scene sees jackeroo Frank Hawdon in utter disbelief when Sybylla abruptly dismisses him when he makes a move on her. How could she be so unkind and ungracious!
The team of actors who share the stage with Shiels all give good performances. Special praise for the actresses; Blazey Best, Emma Harvie and Tracey Mann. Tom Conroy, Jason Chong and Guy Simon play the men in Sybylla’s life who are the brunt of Sybylla’s brashness and candour.
Robert Cousins period costumes impressed as did Amelia Lever-Davidson’s outstanding lighting design and Steve Francis’ edgy soundscape.
There’s more than a touch of brilliance about this production. ‘My Brilliant Career’ has a long season upstairs at Belvoir, so there is a lot of time to catch it. The show plays until Sunday January 31.
Featured image: Nikki Shiels, Jason. Chong in ‘My Brilliant Career’ upstairs at Belvoir Street Theatre. Pic Brett Boardman
