THEATRE: VINCENT RIVER
BY KOMI SELLATHURAI
From telling a ‘deformed baby’ joke to smoking her first joint to taking in the scent of her dead son’s shirt, the last tangible memory of a “gay bashing” victim, AFI-nominated actress Elaine Hudson, playing Anita, steals the show. Anita’s homosexual son Vincent River has been brutally murdered in a public toilet in London’s East End, and she finds out how in a hour-and-a-half verbal tussle with Davey (Beejan Olfat) ‘ the fidgety teenager who had found the body. Written by award-winning UK writer Philip Ridley, this is a powerful story about loss, inexpressible grief and a social injustice that is often overlooked or trivialised by society and media. Unfortunately, the climatic impact of the story is lost in the one too many tiresome flashbacks and a distracting white sheet over cardboard boxes set design. Even though the actors are compelling to watch, especially in the confronting compact setting of the Old Fitzroy Theatre, the play desperately needs editing. This can easily go from a good to an unforgettable play with a little tweaking, and I reckon it will get better from its commendable opening night performance.
Until 31 December 2008. The Old Fitzroy Theatre, Cnr Cathedral and Dowling Sts, Woolloomooloo. $17-$35, 1300 GET TIX (1300 438 849) or www.rocksurfers.org
