I’ve always been a bit of a fan of the play within a play genre. The genre has been around for a long time. For one thing it was a genre that William Shakespeare loved. One only has to recall Hamlet and the classic scene in which King Claudius reacts ‘violently’ and confirms Hamlet’s suspicion that he has murdered his father.
In OPENING NIGHT, Myrtle is a highly acclaimed, much loved actress. The back story is that she has taken on the leading role in a major production and is being directed by a director she has worked with before, to much success,
The play starts with Myrtle well into her rehearsal period. She is being torn apart by doubt. She can’t relate to her character who is so different from her. A woman who is weak and unable to stand up for herself. A woman who allows herself to be slapped, and it is this slapping that the play pivots on.
I need to declare that I am not familiar with the late John Cassevetes’ film of the same name which director Carissa Licciardello has adapted for the stage. What I can say is that OPENING NIGHT stands up well on its own as a provative, visceral drama.
David Fleischer’s set works well. Veteran designers Nick Schlieper (lighting) and Max Lyandvert (composer) again show their great skill.
Performances were excellent.I’ve always loved the work of Leeanna Walsman. I remember seeing her years ago at the Sydney Theatre Company in Neil LaBute’s brilliant play The Shape Of Things that here was an actress to watch out for. She is great in the exacting role of the emotionally volatile Myrtle.
Understudy Anthony Harkin was very steady as Marty, who acted opposite her.
Luke Mullins gives a strong performance as the largely unsympathetic, prickly and pushy director Manny.
Toni Scanlan was engaging as the playwright Sarah who has such a difficult tussle with Myrtle and ends up wanting to see her replaced.
Jing-Xuan Chan gave a first class performance as the show’s very attentive costume designer who endeavours to meet the Diva’s every whim.
Caitlin Burley impressedl in the difficult role of Nancy, Myrtle’s obsessive fan who looms large in Myrtle’s fragmented mind.
If you like your drama powerful and multi-layered then ensure that you go and see OPENING NIGHT which is playing upstairs at Belvoir Street Theatre until the 26th March, 2022.
Featured image : Leeanna Walsman and Anthony Harkin in ‘Opening Night’. Picsc Brett Boardman
