MKA: Bounty

It is always a refreshing adventure to catch an MKA offering.  Bounty is, as described in the Darebin Fringe Festival booklet, ‘(an) absurd collision between modern Queensland and ancient Rome’, absurd being the operative word here.

This wild, somewhat messy work, a little on the thin side as far as content, is slickly directed by Tom Gutteridge and performed with energy and aplomb by Conor Gallacher, Matilda Reed, Zia Zantis-Vinycomb and Artemis Ioannides.

Gallacher as Campbell Newman, and other inferred archetypal leaders, amply serves the role of manipulative patriarch and egocentric leader.  Reed, a beautiful lithe young actor, manages to fit the bill as Newman’s determined, supportive and often very serious wife Lisa Campbell.  Zantis-Vinycomb works well as with the rest of the ensemble to emulate the role of one of Newman’s daughters but it is Ioannides who excels as daughter Sarah Newman, who she plays with strong focused centred energy and commitment. 

Initially set around the family dining table this work speaks of the power and control of the family patriarch as well as the community leader/slimy politician and is ridiculously timely in the current political climate.

It is a hilarious romp written and directed from a male perspective and contains a truly messy physical bitch fight (the second I had seen in this weeks theatre).  Costumes (Erin Duyndam) come off and go back on and things get chaotic.

Worryingly, no matter how good the sound producer Jordan Dempster is, the speakers in Studio 1 at Northcote Town Hall have seen/heard better days and really need to be replaced to honor best Theatre practice.

An adventurous and energetic show – fun to catch.

Suzanne Sandow