Chasing Yesterday - Melbourne Fringe
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Sat 14 Sep 2019 - Sat 28 Sep 2019
Spewing about the Monash Car Park is not the best way to start to wind down and enjoy Melbourne theatre, but this play was still all worth it. Even though I arrived late, the acting was in full swing and superb. I was immediately drawn into the intriguing plot twists. Just three actors held the audience enthralled with a very clever plot and gentle humour.
The plot was derived by Becki Bouchier (writer/director) along with the actors themselves. The actors are a multicultural lot with backgrounds from Argentina, Singapore, Ireland, Lebanon, Scotland, Britain and Australia, all coming together to create this inclusive ambience.
The numerous woven plots revolve around a golden Token that allows you to go back in time and change just one event for a different future outcome. The question remains who has the wisdom to use it and who has the wisdom to not. And does using it, really solve the situation you are in; can the use of it change your future for the worst? Becki has been very clever indeed. The script is beautifully written and both funny and nostalgic and very soul searching. You leave wondering and discussing with others, "
What would my choice be?"
Three central actors played all the parts and wove their stories with finesse. And I was lucky enough to be able to interview them and the director.
I asked director Becki what has inspired the play. She said "I
like things that have a fantasy element in them. So I came up with this token concept and then we brainstormed with each other and family and explored what we would all do. But we wanted a blend of silly things as well as important."
Eugenia Rahi is an actor who was born in Argentina had several roles to play and dilemmas to unravel. Will she use the token to go back in time to change the decision of whether her husband should have taken a different job pathway? She first played Margo who is very arrogant and went to the countryside to further her career and runs into the cowgirl. Eugenia says "
Then I play Susie with Diana and we are a couple. And then I play Marjorie who is married and has three children and her husband. She loses her job but she has already used her token."
These plots weave together beautifully and the acting is excellent.
Sally Brown is an actor who was inspired by her psychologist to return to her acting career and creativity. She is now trying to gain a balance between her acting desires and her serious role as a Clinical Psychologist who is currently working part-time in drug and alcohol counselling. She said she enjoyed playing the many roles in the play, "
I start as Felicia a cowgirl and then a woman who has an affair and I have to decide how to use the token." I asked which she related to the most and she said, "
The teenage girl whose friend suicides as I work with teenagers as well". She plays other roles, but let me not spoil them. Get along to the play little doggy to find out.
Donna Spillane is originally from Sydney and she is as she says, "
An international actor, teacher, singer, writer, wife and mother; not necessarily in that order". Her character's main dilemma resolves around her husband. It is a heartbreaking decision but uplifting at the same time. Experience outs and Donna nailed this performance. She said,
"I play an old lady who cannot decide to go back in time to fix something or just to let it be and live in the moment and in the end, George showed me a sign."
The theatre itself is cosy and intimate and behind a restaurant bar. And the staging is very cleverly designed for each story to follow the other with simple but effective stage changes.
The play was held at Long Play in Fitzroy North. Plan to have dinner before or after. You can take a drink into the theatre if you wish.
Trying to find Long Play is not very easy as you are looking for a theatre, not a restaurant. The signage on the door is very small, so give yourself a bit of leeway with time.
But putting that all aside, this play is well worth the effort and you will thoroughly enjoy the acting and twisting plots.
And you have four more chances to catch it on Saturday, September 21 and 28th, at 6:30 or the second sitting of 8:30.
You definitely need to book as there were few spare seats, which is a testament to how good this play is.
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!date 14/09/2019 -- 28/09/2019
%wnmelbourne
116984 - 2023-06-12 19:35:30