"Façade", currently showing as part of the Midsumma Festival at the Northcote Town Hall, is a play that asks the question 'can we ever trust the people we care about?'. In an exciting debut from first-time director and writer Brad Lowry, Façade delivers a clever mix of drama and comedy as lies are exposed and hard truths revealed in a powerful piece of theatre.
Set in South Yarra, the play takes place in Perfect Façade an events company managed by Francis Banks (Zoran Babic) and his ex-wife Sylvia Banks (Sarah Milway). From the opening scene when the new guy Steve (Corey Gaal) starts asking questions of the staff – Donna (Serena Chubb) and Nathan (Emile Jae Fernandez) – about the managers and their failed marriage, it becomes abundantly clear this subject, while everyone knows about it, is not open for discussion.
Francis is now Fran, a gay control freak reminiscent of the boss in
The Devil Wears Prada. Sylvia, the hard drinking, well-liked manager joins her team in tip-toeing around Fran and from the outset is barely keeping it together. This, combined with Nathan's on-again, off-again relationship with his stripper boyfriend Guy (Michael Fenemore) and the secret lives of Donna and Steve; make Façade an interwoven plot where the stories of six individuals eventually and inevitably come undone.
It is the story of Fran and Sylvia that is at the heart of the play. One of the most memorable scenes is their final confrontation during Fran's 40th birthday in the second act. Milway adds depth to the untenable situation of Sylvia and moves from a quiet resignation to desperate rage. While Babic shows strong range as he conveys a real vulnerability and sadness to Fran as he later realises the full weight of what has happened.
There is a comedic thread throughout the play that is undeniably camp, highlighting some of the quirks in gay culture. Some of the best lines come from Nathan and Fran with Fernandez showing a real gift for comedic timing.
I joined an almost packed house on opening night and enjoyed every minute of the play. Judging from the number of laughs and the positive audience reaction, Façade is sure to be one of the highlights of the 2012 Midsumma season.
