The Intensive Intensive Intensive at Tuxedo Cat - Melbourne Fringe 2016

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Posted 2016-09-26 by Donna Sue Robson ⇒ follow

Thu 15 Sep 2016 - Sun 02 Oct 2016

Kimberley Twiner, aka Stella Lurhmann, presents an interactive theatre workshop as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The most outstanding detail of this show is that Kimberley is a gifted actor who has done the hard-yards in practising and perfecting her craft. She has poise, flair, discipline and structured control. There are no holes in this one-woman show: from beginning to end 'The Intensive Intensive Intensive' hones in on and pounds home what tension is and how it drives the story, character and theatre.

There is a lot to 'Intensive': snippets of theatrical monologue from great plays such as Macbeth, Summer of the 17TH Doll and Mary Queen of Scots, mime, clowning techniques as well as workshop-style audience interaction and participant-improvised performance. The pace was punchy, slightly 'bipolar' and layered. This is part of the script craftsmanship and Kimberley's timing, which although can be taught, could have faltered under the pressure of improvisation. Such a vision requires finely-tuned, multi-skills that must include refined facilitation and people-management skills, for it could go wrong at any moment- but doesn't.

Interlaced between Stella's own theatrical muses and recitals, Stella descends from the stage to engage or recreate exactly what theatre and acting training is: this intermittent improvisation both alerted and diverted attention and created more intensity because it came with twists and new characterisations, stories and interactions. There were audience members who had an acting or theatrical background: but there were also those who did not- all were equally comfortable and engaged. That, in itself, is hard to achieve and Stella managed and directed the energy masterfully.

There was also room for participant improvisation on stage- and I have no doubt that Stella chose her participants well. Throughout these interludes - which could have brought the professionalism down- the show never lost pace for the intensity- constantly provided by Stella, never wavered.

The Intensive Intensive Intensive was captivating from the outset and to sustain and create layers of intensity, throughout a one-woman, one-hour show, is a real achievement. As a performer, Kimberley's 'face' or array of facial expressions and cues is remarkable. She is a really, really impressive artist.

Stella exudes real physical command on stage which in itself, explores the intensity that comes from sheer charisma and how it can lure and direct action. This was another understated element of 'Intense'- the power of sexual charisma and the ability of a facilitator to get what they want which, she hinted, was part of the theatrical world. 'The Intensive Intensive Intensive' skilfully exposes a world of masks that poses the obvious question: is acting real? It is a complex position and complexity is intense. And the show rolls on.

The World is A Stage but the Play is Badly Cast

Intensive poses another positional statement which may or may not be a metaphor to life. These are the questions left unanswered, but are those which I am sure every drama student, drama queen or those that have dramatic lives, grapple with daily. What is real and what do we mask? Because the vision of 'Intensive' was set so clearly- the show didn't have to make conclusions for you: the experience 'was what it was', and the dilemmas that accompany dramatic life were clear and intriguing.

The Intensive, Intensive Intensive is compelling and fast-paced. It poses many questions and leaves you, in your own intensive space, to answer them. The show is playing at The Tuxedo Cat, in Latrobe Street Melbourne as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival until its closure on October 2nd.