From All Who Came Before

From All Who Came Before inaugurates the season at La Mama HQ and breathes wonderful new life into this tastefully and lovingly restored venue. Milly Cooper and Ben Jamieson have produced an elegant and sophisticated piece of experimental theatre that tests many of the boundaries of stage performance. Almost every gesture and movement performed by the characters Avery (Ben Jamieson) and Lume (Milly Cooper) is audio described by the very soothing and hypnotic voice of Kristen Smythe. 

The emergence of the puppet as the embodiment of the narrator’s voice is just among the many delightful surprises this complex and poetic text offers. The narration goes well beyond mere description; it is frequently lyrical, sometimes elegiac but above all insightful and emotional. The creators cite a variety of important artistic and philosophical influences, and this gives the text enormous richness and a real sense of deep exploration. As the show progresses it increasingly resembles the gradual construction of a Magritte painting where so many real and everyday items are situated in a very incongruous yet pleasing manner. 

The de-contextualisation of objects, emotions, routines, and rituals is executed with style and expertise both in terms of intricate performances and inventive set, sound and lighting design. The questioning of the self, relationships, creativity, and raison d'être that this elicits is not cast as confronting but challenges the viewer in a very gentle and sensitive manner. The incorporation of delicate puppetry contributes to the sublime ethereal quality of the show and transports the audience into a truly unusual and enjoyable theatrical realm. Bravo!

Patricia Di Risio

Photographer: Darren Gill