The Dark Matters Theatre Company has chosen Australian playwright Andrew Bovell’s 1997 play ‘Speaking in Tongues’ for their first production. The Company has chosen well, actually top shelf. This is an intricately written, chilling play that sweeps across the rich, dark terrain of human relationships.
A talented cast of four, David Hodgkins, Melinda Jensen, Stephanie Reeves and Mark J Wilson, impressively play Bovell’s nine deeply conflicted characters. Glen Hamilton’s direction is assured, letting the play weave its spell.
It’s an intimate night at the theatre. The stage is tiny, with three tall mirrors casting shadows. The Darlo Drama Theatre fits only fifty people. On the night there were just twenty-two Covid safe patrons.
If you have seen Ray Lawrence’s 2001 film ‘Lantana’ starring Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Armstrong, Geoffrey Rush and Barbara Hershey and loved it, this is the play where it all started from. It was already candescent.
Well worth a visit,’Speaking in Tongues’ is playing the Darlo Drama Theatre, Level 1, 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst until Sunday 22 November.
https://www.darkmatterstheatre.com/
All pics by Matthew Venables
