Shadows of Love: A triptych

Another of Brisbane’s thriving indie theatre scene, The Curators’ Theatre Company is an ensemble dedicated to presenting diverse works that experiment with theatrical form and style. For Fringe Brisbane, they have put together an intriguing mix of short plays about what happens when love goes very wrong, and three different takes on the cliche of the ‘femme fatale’. A collection of three short pieces opens with chanteuse, Chelsea Burton, setting the scene firmly in the romantic post-war era. Up first is the 70-minute play Mrs Thally F. Sherri Smith plays real-life ‘husband poisoner’, Yvonne Fletcher, a Sydney housewife who lives for Saturday night, and disposes of her two husbands when their gambling and abuse means that life does not live up to her romantic expectations. Lisa Hickey directs strong performances from Sherri Smith, Bronwyn Naylor (superb as Yvonne’s survivor mother), Julie Berry and Vivien Whittle who play a cast of nosey neighbours and gentleman callers. This one-act piece by playwright John Romeril (possibly best known for his Bastardy with Uncle Jack Charles) was first performed at the Pram Factory in Melbourne in 1971. It could use some trims as the scenes depicting both murders are very repetitious. But the cast use the repeated rhythms as a sort of haunting, with bubbly old songs of the era – notably Jackie Wilson’s ‘Reet Petite (the Finest Girl you Ever Want to Meet)’ taking on a sinister bent. 

The next piece, Trifles a 1916 one-act play by US playwright, journalist and novelist, Susan Glaspell (adapted and directed by Helen Strube who transports the drama to outback Australia) is a wonderful short drama. What a find. Glaspell wrote her play based on a true crime story she had reported on – convicted killer, Minnie Foster. Once again the victim is an abusive husband. As local policeman (James Kable) checks the house for clues, two neighbouring women take stock of the kitchen and put things together in a sewing basket to take to Minnie at the jailhouse. What they find could skew the trial. Should they tell the police? Eleonara Gianardi and Caroline Sparrow are wonderful as Mrs Hale and Mrs Peters – women who wonder if they could have intervened earlier to help Minnie. Even though she is in jail and has minimal dialogue, as Minnie, Bronwyn Naylor is a powerful presence on stage for the whole piece. The stage set, scattered with bird cages, is simple and effective.

The final piece, The Stronger, adapts an August Strindberg piece and features just two characters: actresses Isabella (Lisa Hickey) and Amelia (Caroline Sparrow). Directed by Helen Strube, the piece is almost a monologue by Lisa Hickey and it’s brilliantly performed. When you learn that Amelia is the mistress of Isabella’s husband, you can imagine the tension that ensues. For Shadows of Love, the quaint Christ Church adds to the retro atmosphere  and Chelsea’s segue songs work very well to set the scene in the breaks between plays. The vintage costumes are great, and a set design of hanging garments, tea cups and spooky old dolls is a subconscious reminder of the domestic identities our female leading ladies were forced to adopt. Back in its heyday some of the best theatre in Brisbane was at the original La Boite Theatre and I enjoyed seeing some of its alumni back on the stage for The Curators in the intimate setting of the lovely old Christ Church. A neat collection of plays and players.

Find out more – The Curators’ Theatre: https://www.curators.com.au

Fringe Brisbane – https://fringebrisbane.com.au

Beth Keehn