The theatre was abuzz with eager anticipation for the world premiere of this play, the first by ad-man David Nobay (creative chairman of Droga5 Australia) and we were not disappointed. Short and intense, Moving Parts is explosively powerful and darkly disturbing. Its two actors, both of whom studied at NIDA, give gripping, compelling performances that are subtly nuanced yet also threateningly volcanic.
The setting is a posh and exclusive jewellery store in London’s Bond Street, of which Roy (Colin Friels, in a white shirt and elegant suit) is the owner. A rich, sandy-beige carpet, a couple of large jewellery display cases, a charming painting and a heavy desk are included in Steven Jones-Evans design.
The store has been Roy’s life for the past 26 years. As the audience enter Roy is at work, waiting for closing time. He can wax poetical about the science of and various parts of a watch, the design, balance and proportion, in the quest for the perfect watch. He has an ‘eye’ for exclusive pieces and a feeling for the major pieces he deals in.
Suddenly a customer appears – Sean – wanting to look at the various items of merchandise. He also has a hidden agenda.
Moving Parts is about revenge, intense family relationships, demanding answers, long held grudges and separations. Also the threat of death. At times, under Steve Rogers’ excellent direction, it is as emotionally intense as a Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller play can be. The script is biting and passionate with touches of black humour. While set in London, there are Australian accents and Sydney/Melbourne jokes. There are almost cinematic scene shifts and light changes to indicate the passing of time.
Much intense and hidden business is revealed under the influence of alcohol and a gun. We get the impression, thanks to a wonderful monologue, that Roy really loved his wife, now deceased. Yet there is also a dark side (she was unfaithful and gave him an STD) and coldness.
Sean’s arrival is motivated by revenge, though at first it seems that he is just another rich customer, but things soon turn very nasty. Sean is played with angry, burning intensity by Josh McConville. Casually yet expensively dressed, and carrying a Harrods bag, he can be quite dangerous – he has a gun (notice his bandaged hand as well) and threatens to kill Roy. But then the tables are turned, Russian Roulette-like…
One or two of the intense, extremely high stakes moments could perhaps do with tweaking, and some of the lines have great double entendres leading to uneasy laughter. There is no real sense of conclusion, rather a sense of ‘fade to black’ and ‘to be continued’.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Moving Parts
Written by David Nobay
Director: Steve Rogers
Designer: Steven Jones-Evans
Lighting Designer: Russell Boyd
Lighting Associate: Nicholas Rayment
Costume Designer: Margot Wilson
Music: Jack Ladder
Cast: Colin Friels and Josh McConville
Running time: one hour 15 (approx) no interval
NIDA Parade Theatres, Kensington
25 July – 10 August
