Review by Kate Gaul
Sydney Fringe really comes alive at the Emerging Artists Sharehouse at Erskineville Town Hall. The building – transformed into a number of small theatres – is the perfect place for a hub and the diversity of the audience speaks to its success as a venue. With a queue spilling out and onto the pavement it was the perfect night for some fringe action. Subtlenuance is a local theatre company that has quietly gone about the business of creating and developing new work since 2008. The website tells us “Our focus is the exploration of political and philosophical ideas. We believe theatre is a forum for many voices; an art form especially suited to both the exploration and creation of subtlety and nuance. Through these two qualities our world becomes richer.”
Tonight, it’s the premiere of “Augusta” written by Paul Gilchrist and directed by Daniela Giorgi. Paul loves his historical figures, and this taut one act play tells of the first woman of Rome, Honoria- sister of an emperor. She’s rich, she has it all, but she doesn’t wield the kind of power that the men have. She has a brother whom she considers to be much less able, so she hatches a plan and sets it in motion. Oh, and in case you’re confused about the name – she has the name Augusta bestowed upon her as a great honour but as it didn’t amount to much in reality, she was forced to write to gool ol’
Atilla the Hun. Because of various scandals. He then interprets her letter as a marriage proposal… Anyway, go see the show for yourself to get the story. Don’t be put off by its historical roots this is far from a dry retelling of history.
What is striking about the play is it feels so very contemporary – not only in its dissection of power and the place and role of women - but its dialogue is witty, very funny and often poetic. Megan Bennetts inhabits the titular role with aplomb. With loads of stage charisma and effervescent authority she commands the stage. We laugh, we feel for her, and we even identify with her courage. Russell Cronin plays the male roles – all of whom have very florid names: Hyacinthus, Eugenius and Valentinian. He covers the territory well enough but doesn’t always find the balance between playing a fool and being foolish. The characters don’t know they are fools and it’s up to Augustus to outwit them and show them up for who they are. Brilliantly still and mostly silent is Alyona Popova who delivers a crystal-clear Prologue and Epilogue. During the action of the play she kneels as Sisek, a servant – always present, a witness, always listening. There are no small roles, as they say….
Director Daniela Giorgi has the action played around a central chair in a royal luscious blue colour. Sisek wears a contemporary green dress, and the main characters wear garments constructed to look like something out of ancient Rome. It’s all super evocative and visually astute. Being a fringe show there is a limit to what can be achieved technically and thankfully the production does not rely on other elements.
“Augusta” is a solid, mature piece of work and well worth your time as part of an evening out in Erskineville this fringe.
Image Supplied
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