THEATRE: THE POSSIBILITIES

I haven’t seen or even read any of playwright Howard Barker’s works. But after attending the opening of his play The Possibilities at Marrickville’s Sidetrack Theatre, I am quite excited to discover more. That’s a testament to both the brilliance of the work and the manner in which the four directors delivered it. Essentially, The Possibilities is ten separate vignettes, inextricably linked by underlying themes of morality, violence, war, sexuality and power. It is a challenging play and one that requires your full attention. Every moment, every word, every movement is as important as the next, and you are only cheating yourself out of Barker’s profound intelligence and wit by losing focus. The sound is significantly emotive, thanks to Tony Award-nominated Sound Designer Russell Goldsmith, and kudos must be given for the inspired idea to incorporate the overhead aircraft noise into the production. The transitions between scenes are swift and artful, and there are no weak links amongst the talented eight-member cast. Ray Chong Nee is dazzling as the truth-seeking bookseller existing in a totalitarian state, while Jonathan Brand and Brynn Loosemore’s darkly humorous repartee in the The Dumb Woman’s Ecstasy is brilliant. I did struggle to identify the link between certain scenes, and this was somewhat distracting, simply because I was so focused on finding that unity. But it is this that Barker wants, having famously written, “The audience cannot grasp everything; nor did the author.” He assumes we don’t always agree, and that a play is something that each audience member must grapple with in their own way.  The Possibilities – a superior production that will have you thinking long after you leave the theatre.

Until Aug 28, Sidetrack Theatre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville, $20-25, 9550 3666, sidetrack.com.au