The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

By Bertolt Brecht. Willetton Senior High School, WA. Directed by Blake Davies, Chloe Russell, Dionne Sebastian, Ishika Kharola, Jazlyn Skinner, Jemma Roach, Jemma Walker and Kelsie Downey. Willieton Senior High School, Performing Arts Centre. Aug 11-12, 2022

Willetton Senior High School’s Year 12 production is exciting for many reasons. Not only is the production completely directed and designed by the students (who also selected the production), it is a Dinner Theatre, beautifully catered by Year 12 Certificate II Hospitality Students.

While Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui seems an unusual choice for a Dinner Theatre, the heavy subject matter of this parable play, which tells of the rise of a fictional 1930s Chicago mobster, as an allegory for the rise of the Nazi Party and Adolph Hitler in the same time period, is broken up nicely by the serving of a delicious three-course meal. Food that would not be out of place at a function in a 5-star hotel, it was excellent both in presentation and taste, and served with professionalism and grace.

With the theatre in this figuration, Willetton SHS’s stage space is one of the largest in Perth, and this team of young directors have used the space to great effect. With scenographers Ishika Kharola and Jemma Roach thoughtful in their placement. Lighting designers Blake Davies and Jazlyn Skinner have created a bold and colourful lighting plot, with and effective and emotive sound design from Jazlyn Skinner and Jemma Walker. Basic costumes are supplemented with clever of the era additions by CJ Russell and Kelsie Dowley.

Not immune from the current trend of actors becoming ill in performance week, three year 10 students took to the stage with books in hands to play significant roles in this production - and doing a fabulous job with a wordy and complex test, in low light. Excellent replacement work from Lara Given filling in for CJ Russell as Emmanuele Giri, Ava Smith replacing Kelsie Dowley and Stefanie Crossley stepping in mid-run for Ember Sanders in numerous roles.

Ishika Kharola sets the tone for the show, bookending the play with an enigmatic performance as The Announcer (as well as solid performances in other roles), while Dionne Sebastian anchors the show with strength - likeable detestable in the title role. Jemma Walker brings depth to Guiseppe Givola in a thoughtful performance, while Jemma Roach’s mature, layered performance as Old Dogsborough is a joy to watch.

Jazlym Skinner masters some of the more emotive roles in the show, notably the wrongly accused Fish and the widowed Betty Dullfeet, with Blake Davies and Jazlyn Skinner creating distinct characters in multiple roles. Kiera Lilley and Stephanie Irons show good teamwork as Goodwill and Gaffles, with effective support provided by Hannah Cooke, Isabel O’Connell, and Annabelle Turner. David Phillip’s lovely radio tomes are a chilling contrast to the history of the rise of Hitler that he presents throughout.

While the subject matter of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui may not be uplifting, the wonderful community feel of this production, and the dedication to both performance and hospitality left its audience feeling great. Congratulations to all involved.

Kimberley Shaw