Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (reviewed Saturday 8 February)
What a wonderfully imaginative play!
When a group of stagnating writers meet up for their regular writer’s circle, they did not expect their characters to ‘come to life’, literally.
The crowd loved this intricate meta-comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, presented by Castle Hill Players with David Went as director.
Act 1 introduces us to the home of host Arnold Hassock (Jem Rowe) sometime in the late 20th century. Curtain rise gives us another ‘wow!’ moment when Set Design (Abby Bishop) is revealed. We are in for a real treat. A theatrical page turner. Tell us more!!
In Act 2, the actors undergo several costume changes with lightning speed, leaving us all marvelling at their transformations.
Jem Rowe plays Arnold, who is self-deprecatingly as ‘creative as a door knob’ because he writes instruction manuals instead of imaginative stories like his peers. Arnold can write instructions with precision but can’t count 10 chairs, and relies on his attractive assistant to set things straight. The character is someone who is dependable and loyal (taking care of his sick mother) yet unassuming about his romantic potential and treats his neurotic guests in a very congenial way. Rowe is perfect in this part and brings sublime comedy and confusion when Arnold’s logical world is turned upside down.
Lauren Asten-Smith plays Ilsa Wolby, a good natured assistant who, like Arnold, underestimates her potential. Asten-Smith is a dependable force on stage and effortlessly shifts between time periods. In Act 2, Ilsa is thrown into Ophellian characters conjured up by the creations of the writing peer group, wielding a very large knife.
Anthea Brown plays Jess Bales, a mother who is writing and illustrating a children’s book, but is mortified that the cantankerous teacher, Brevis Winterton (Brendan Iddles) is also there, leering, criticising, booming, making her feel small and foolish. Jess and Brevis become a team in Act 2 with fabulous steampunk costumes, transporting us to a delightful imaginary world. Iddles is also to be highly commended for taking us all aback with Brevis’ vicious anger directed towards ‘young people’ and all the foolish things they do. Good Heavens!
Vanessa Henderson plays Grace Sims who is fed up and jaded. A reserved farm-hand at heart, Grace is more at home amongst the chickens but becomes a tour-de-force as a voyeuristic observer in period costume in Act 2.
Will Shipp gives us Viwi Dickens and Wills Burke is Clem Pepp, a partnership not unlike Mulder & Scully. There is great chemistry in their symbiotic relationship and many laughs just from their exaggerated movements and facial expressions.
Lighting Design (Mark Dawson) and Sound Design (George Cartledge) complemented the actual thunderstorm occurring outside, leaving many of us wondering if the sound effects were real. Meta!
Improbable Fiction is playing at The Pavilion Theatre in Castle Hill till 1 March. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://paviliontheatre.org.au/improbable-fiction/
Images
Chris Lundie
Cast
Arnold Hassock: Jem Rowe
Ilsa Wolby: Lauren Asten-Smith
Jess Bales: Anthea Brown
Grace Sims: Vanessa Henderson
Vivvi Dickens: Will Shipp
Clem Pepp: Wills Burke
Brevis Winterton: Brendan Iddles
Creatives
Director: Dave Went
Set Design: Abby Bishop
Costume Design: Leone Sharp
Lighting Design: Mark Dawson
Sound design: George Cartledge