Reviews

This is a play replete with intriguing and complex political subterfuge and this has been effectively brought to life by this vibrant Melbourne Shakespeare Company production. The casting of this show is well considered and contributes to the overall clarity it brings to the dramatic events and the compelling psychological study that the text offers. All the performances, both large and small, prioritise the emotional turmoil of each of the characters and give great insight into the personal and political ambitions that drive their actions.

It’s always a packed house! A noisy, boisterous packed house! A packed house of people of all ages, from under 8 to over 80! Some alone, some in pairs, some in family groups! All excited because most know what’s coming, and those who don’t are just caught up in the buzz and vibe. The vibe that is TheatreSports – and Celebrity TheatreSports in particular!

Yoruba and Ngati Tuwharetoa musician Samuel Gaskin has a lot to say about racism and injustice. That he does it through music makes his message clear and strong – especially in this performance where graphic visuals reinforce and sustain his words. Reckoning is using theatre not just to entertain but to reflect society and to herald the need for change. It is activism in its less strident but equally powerful form.

The show begins before the show.  It’s opening night.  As the audience waits on the deck outside the La Mama HQ theatre, Maude Davey and Jane Bayly come out in white blouses and long white skirts.  We don’t know why these outfits, and I don’t think we ever find out.  Maude has fourteen strips of white cardboard, each with the name of a song, or a poem, or a piece of prose, that will make up the show My First Bike.  It’s all very chatty and relaxed, like we all know – and like – each other, and we love Maude and Jane.