Demens - Theatre Review

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Thu 14 Jul 2016 - Sun 24 Jul 2016

**Trigger warning: This play contains scenes involving self-harm, mental illness, depression, suicide, sexual themes, miscarriage, medical procedures, and violence.

Set in a psychiatric hospital, this play examines the themes of desire, patriarchy, and prejudice simultaneously, balancing extreme tragedy and dark humour.

Demens does this by allowing its audience to see its dark and disturbing world through the eyes of four people:
Dr. Osmond, played by Don Bridges (Cosi, Fiddler on the Roof, The Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries), is the brash and sinister head Doctor of the hospital. As the play's main patriarchal character, Dr. Osmond first comes across as respectable - that is until you realise he's on the edge of madness himself.
Bridges' definitely gives the stand-out performance of this play, with the Australian Shakespeare Company alumni's ominous presence felt even when he's absent from the stage.

Lilith: Played by Louise Crawford -whose previous roles include appearances in City Homicide, Upper Middle Bogan, and The Importance of Being Earnest- plays the self-harming patient, with a resemblance of a modern-day Blanche Dubois. As she obsesses over Anna Karenina and Emma Bovary as if living vicariously through them, Lilith makes it clear she wants nothing more than a lobotomy to rid her of tormenting memories and dark secrets


Nurse Gabriel is the sadistic psychiatric nurse portrayed by Philip Cristian Claassen so well he makes your skin crawl.

Fanatically religious, the way Gabriel likes to push his patient's to their limits, even Lilith, on whom Gabriel has quite the crush, really makes you wonder why he's yet to be committed himself.

Allan/Stanley: The performance of Allan by Jai Luke (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Pride and Prejudice, The Insomnia Project) and his secondary personality Stanley, is as hyperactive as it is disturbing.

While Allan obsesses over a way to escape his life and struggles with his gender identity, Stanley is like Allan's evil twin; a mixed bag of mother/intimacy issues and an aching to take out his inner rage on whoever is closest.

To quote Don Bridges after Friday night's showing, this play is "psychologically challenging". Though stories based in psychiatric wards are often portrayed as intriguing, spooky and even entertaining, the depictions of derangement in this particular play are distinctly different.

In short; Demens is not madness-lite.
It's a trip down the rabbit hole.

'Demens' is showing now until July 24 at Bluestone Church Arts Space. Tickets can be booked via TryBooking , or at the door (depending on availability).
%%Playwright: Amedeo Astorino.
Director: Natasha Broadstock.
Design (including set): Harry Paternoster and Victoria Haslam.
Lighting and sound: Lindon Blakey, Nick Moloney and Matthew Barber.
Photography: Michael Foxington.
Projections: Mad Alice Media%%.

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!date 14/07/2016 -- 24/07/2016
%wnmelbourne