80 Minutes No Interval

80 Minutes No Interval
Image: Sheridan Harbridge, Ryan Johnson and Julia Rorke Photo: Tony Davison

Laughing at the unfortunate failures of other people can be an uplifting and almost life affirming experience that serves to reassure the rest of us that we may have not screwed up completely.

Travis Cotton’s play 80 Minutes No Interval, a black comedy that is bold and slightly absurd, allows us to do just that.

Presented by Thread Entertainment in conjunction with Red Line Productions, the play is about Louis, an unsuccessful novelist turned theatre critic. The production traces his trials, tribulations and obstacles over a 30-year time frame as he fumbles through life, governed by repeated mistakes and bad luck. As the title suggests, the play goes for 80 minutes, without an interval.

Julia Rorke plays Mathilde, a florist. She explained that the absence of an interval mirrors Louis’ desire to get on with life, push straight through and the process of “getting to the next beat”.

The play is self-aware and self-satirising. Rorke explained that it pokes fun at theatrical devices and the sometimes superfluous conventions of theatre culture. It also deals with the concept of the creative struggle and how perfectionism can be debilitating and self-sabotaging.

“Louis is never happy with what he’s got. There’s always one more thing to be fixed. He has always got to change an adjective or a paragraph – that’s the thing that paralyses him and prevents him from getting his work out there,” Rorke explained. “Perfectionism is a very tempting and seductive thing. From my personal experience, it’s actually scary to let go and say, ‘you know what, this will never be perfect and I’m just going to go with what I’ve got now’.”

80 Minutes No Interval makes comedy out of misfortune. “Misfortune is such a potent fuel for creating hilarious situations,” said Rorke. “It’s almost cathartic or healing to watch other people stuff up.”

In Australia, where modern comedic theatre is scarce, the play brings a breath of fresh air.

“Comedy is total exposure – a lack of all inhibition,” said Rorke. “In everyday life we all have these veneers. In comedy there’s just no room for that – the veneers being removed, that is the comedy.”

“I love the writing in the play. It really is so hilarious and large and ridiculous but it’s also so grounded in truth – that for an actor is just a f**king dream.” (SH)

March 8–Apr 9. Old Fitzroy Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $28-$38. Tickets & info: oldfitztheatre.com or 0409 020 119

 

BY SHON HO

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