Delilah at The Butterfly Club - Review

Delilah at The Butterfly Club - Review

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Posted 2018-02-22 by Mistress of Culture Vulturesfollow

Tue 20 Feb 2018 - Sun 25 Feb 2018

Domestic violence, the 'crime of passion' features in Delilah, a new play by Left Of Centre Theatre Co on now at The Butterfly Club until Sunday 25 February. Book your tickets here .



Based on the biblical tale in the Book of Judges, Delilah contemporises the relationship of Samson and Delilah - two young people, who have left their families to set up house in the suburbs, expecting love to see them through hard times. The play explores how an obsession with power and money can destroy intimate relationships.

In the traditional tale in the Old Testament Book of Judges, Samson's power is connected to his long hair. He kills lions with his bare hands, defeats the Philistines, removes the doors of the city gates of Gaza and carries them to the hilltop of Hebron. Delilah does a deal with the Philistines to weaken Samson by plaiting his hair into seven weaves. The Philistines arrest the powerless Samson and pay Delilah. In some ways, Delilah is Samson's downfall through her beauty and manipulation.

In Left Of Centre Theatre Co's version, Samson is a champion boxer recently arrested for late night violence and assault. He also has a potential murder charge looming, back in his hometown. Samson earns big cash for winning tournaments, whilst Delilah works in a medical practice.

Delilah asks Samson to give up boxing as it is feeding his obsession with violence, and she wants to start a family, with a man who will be kind to their children. Samson is unable to calm down, and often spends evenings training at home, which increases his aggression towards Delilah, and alludes to potential sexual abuse. Delilah's brother, Dominic, visits her in secret and pleads her to leave Samson and not have his children - however, Delilah is caught in the cycle of violence - she loves Samson and believes she can rehabilitate him into 'father figure' material. She even attempts to cut Samson's hair, to see if that will dilute the aggressive behaviour.

On the financial side of the relationship, Samson and Delilah's home has little furniture, not even an oven or microwave to cook meals. Samson is earning big cash, but where is it going? Delilah still works full-time to make ends meet.

Can Samson and Delilah transform their co-dependent relationship into an equitable partnership?

This is a great little production, focusing on the characters, with minimal set, to create maximum impact on the important themes in this play. The pace is a little slow to start but hang in there and see the characters develop - even Samson shows some repentance and self-reflection. All three characters are played by female actors in this female-led production, which makes Left Of Centre Theatre Co's production even more interesting.

Check out Delilah at The Butterfly Club, 8.30 pm, on every night this week until Sunday 25 February 2018.

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!date 20/02/2018 -- 25/02/2018
%wnmelbourne
151755 - 2023-06-14 05:52:27

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