Yours The Face

This surprising piece has been written by Fleur Kilpatrick for one actor to play all characters.  Actually Kilpatrick’s play displays the perception and insight that leads one to think both main characters could be played by either a female or male actor. 

In this production Roderick Cairns is a very commanding tour de force.  He is quite mesmerizing and extraordinarily convincing in both the two contrasting roles, as well as the subsidiary roles.  Androgyny can be so seductive!

Cairns’s characterization is beautifully interpreted and managed and very skillfully integrated into his body both physically and vocally.  His character transformations are handled without a missed beat. 

As realized, here Yours The Face is a very strong work based on a narrative that travels, unfolds and surprises and has been extremely competently managed by some outstanding theatre practitioners.    

I don’t think it is giving too much away to say that writer Fleur Kilpatrick explores the relationship between a photographer and model that twists and turns.  It is partly love story and partly sad indictment of a glossy glamorous narcissistic world with many pitfalls.

The set, a photographer’s studio is perfect and the lighting (Robert Sowinski) is used to great effect changing mood and environment.   There is an unnecessary and way too literal set change towards the end - but this is a small consideration in an otherwise excellent work.

If nudity is going to offend, definitely don’t buy a ticket to this one.

Suzanne Sandow

Photographer: Sarah Walker

Artistic Consultant:  Robert Reid

Performer: Roderick Cairns

Lighting Consultant: Robert Sowinski

Sound Designer:  Tom Pits

Dramaturg: Raimondo Cortese