Between the Fractures

A young woman, Sam, distressed by the sounds of an argument just beyond her door, pushes her headphones into her ears and tries to disappear into the music. She is surprised to find another woman beside her – Mas – who claims to know her, to be her best friend, and Sam must decide whether to trust this apparent stranger in her room.

Between the Fractures draws from the writer and director Jaye Syson’s experiences with depersonalisation disorder, where a person can feel detached from themselves, become an observer of their own thoughts – or even lose control over their thoughts and actions.

Stevie McKeon is Sam, whose trauma stems from her arguing parents, who are loud and violent, and to escape the sounds of angry shouting and crashing crockery, she manifests Mas (played by Lily Johnson) as her best friend, who can guide Sam through her mind, to rediscover joyful memories. However, the deeper they go inside Sam’s head, the more difficult it becomes for Sam to exist in the real world.

McKeon is terrific as Sam, her emotional swings from fear to suspicion to anger are heart-breaking – her tears are real as she navigates Sam’s ordeal. Johnson’s Mas is equally as brilliant, her calm compassion alternating with explosive aggression showing the extremities of trying to manage your mind. They’re a good pairing too: with gentle and purposeful physicality, silent pauses, and meaningful looks, they are best friends on the stage.

Syson’s writing doesn’t dance around Sam’s coping methods, nor their dangers of forgetting who you are. There are some beautiful motifs, and the combination of Syson’s words delivered by McKeon and Johnson evokes images both wonderful and terrifying.

This production is supported by the SA Mental Health Commissioner’s Performers Grants, and it is a challenging yet relatable exploration of how we try and deal with our trauma. It engages, educates – and entertains; it’s not just for those with experience of these situations, it’s essential theatre for everyone.

Review by Mark Wickett

To check out our round-up of Adelaide Fringe reviews, click here.