Review by Sarah Skubala
There’s an abundance of live acts to see this month with the Brisbane Festival in town but be sure to set aside some time to support local indie theatre company Ad Astra, who continue to provide quality theatre experiences presented by local artists. Their latest production, Speaking in Tongues, proves to be just as relevant today as when it was first performed.
Written by Andrew Bovell, Speaking in Tongues premiered in Sydney in 1996 with Griffin Theatre Company and went on to win an Australian Writers Guild (AWGIE) Award. Bovell adapted the play for screen in 2001, and the film Lantana, which starred Geoffrey Rush and Anthony LaPaglia, won multiple Australian Film Institute Awards, now known as AACTAs.
Ad Astra’s intimate theatre space was the perfect setting to draw the audience into the world of Jane, Pete, Sonja and Leon, which it did from the opening scene. On either side of a sheer, dividing screen we met two couples in two separate hotel rooms, each contemplating a one night stand affair. The dialogue intersects and overlaps, playing out like a theatrical tennis match. At times, two of the four characters spoke in unison from the different rooms, and the effect was unique and compelling to watch. What followed was the fallout of these encounters and we learnt how each character was connected, and in doing so, the action was set up for Act Two. The second half of the play saw the web of characters expand with the cast of four taking on completely different roles (with but one character from Act One recurring).
The performances by the cast featuring Doll Hunt, James Dyke, Jazz Lane and Lauren Dillon, under the expert hand of Heidi Gledhill’s direction, ensured the plot twists and turns were always easy to follow and I was left wanting more by the play’s end. Doll Hunt and James Dyke were particularly good at finding the comedic moments, which in life, often spring from the most dramatic. Their scene in the bar was an Act One highlight.
Jazz Lane was particularly compelling as Sarah, the play’s troubled Act Two antagonist, commanding the stage with her stillness, characterisation and complex inner life. Lauren Dillon excelled at presenting two very contrasting characters: the uptight therapist Valerie and the more free-spirited Jane.
Set design by Steavie Bees was minimalistic, using black pieces against the black box theatre walls, allowing the focus to remain on the actors and their nuanced performances. This was an excellent choice, given how great the script is. So often accent work and in-the-round staging can interfere with great writing, but Ad Astra’s production ensured we could see, hear and understand every word.
Speaking in Tongues was an intriguing examination of the choices we make in relationships and the rippling repercussions of those choices. For those wanting to revisit the film Lantana after enjoying the play, it’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Speaking in Tongues is on until 28th September at Ad Astra and is a must-see for lovers of quality independent theatre.
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