Sweet Road

The journeys of the characters in Sweet Road are less sweet, with all the major characters facing life-changing events as they travel the roads of this Australian play. From city streets to ungraded country roads, we journey with these characters as their worlds overlap.

Director Vanessa Jensen’s set design consists of a black stage with two revolves, each allowing for three scenes. As the revolves rotate, we are treated to multiple scenes, including several cars and trucks - each represented by a set of front seats, as well as several other locales. Emotively lit from a design by Lars Jensen, costumes by Michelle Sharp expertly reveal characters, with an appropriate amount of dirt and wear. Alan Gill’s sound design includes guitar performance, and a plethora of radio snippets, all expertly performed by a “Who’s Who” of Perth Theatre (enjoy the voice spotting).

I especially enjoyed the performances of the two leading ladies - two vastly different characters who do not meet until the closing moments of the play. Madelaine Page is convincing as a career woman from Sydney’s northern Beaches, blindsided by the discovery of her husband’s affair and the realisation that he has fathered a co-worker’s child. She takes to the road without preparation, merely to escape. Jackie Oates’ Carla is a polar opposite, an overwrought mum with an endlessly frustrating husband who is making an economically forced move to a new place. Both women capture their characters with flaws and depth, in outstanding betrayals.

Brian O’Donovan gives us the most complex character, Andy, who is eminently likeable, a confirmed optimist with probable ADHD and Autism, with a habit of making bad decisions - a beautifully captured persona. Christopher Hill’s Michael is gently underplayed, slowly revealing a terrible past and crippling reality in a well-drawn portrayal. Gino Cataldo, once again gives a best performance to date, playing older as an interesting widower with dreams.

In smaller roles, Jessica Palokangas is a joy as a madly in love young woman, with an interesting second act journey. Charlie Young is disturbingly good as a hitchhiker who should not have been picked up. Laura Mercer is an efficient police officer, Clare Talbot a laconic and believable mechanic and Michelle Sharp completes the cast well as a receptionist.

One of the better plays of 2024, Sweet Road is well worth seeing, and you get to check out Melville’s new home as a bonus. A very strong production.

Kimberley Shaw