Serving up 1930s noir, gothic horror, space opera, and a welcome side of second-wave feminism, The Intergalactic Nemesis follows reporter Molly Sloan and her clueless sidekick Timmy Mendez, joined by fumbling librarian and romantic interloper Ben Wilcott, on a high-velocity odyssey across continents and galaxies, on a mission to defeat the hive-minded sludge monsters of Zygon.
Advertised as ‘a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience,’ the Arts Centre website aptly sums up this ‘Live Action Graphic Novel’ with this explanation: ‘three actors voice dozens of characters, a Foley artist creates all the sound effects, and a pianist plays a cinematic score, whilst more than 1,250 individual full-colour hi-res comic book panels tell a hilarious sci-fi adventure.’
As the house lights dimmed, our host, Chris Gibson wasted no time assuring us that what we were about to see would be a ‘sensory overload,’ but not before flogging the merchandise available in the foyer, and exhorting us to spread the message to all our friends, with directions to the show’s concomitant web series.
Unabashed corporate enterprising aside, Gibson goes on to introduce a brilliant and dynamic ensemble: taking the Unidyne mics beside him are Rachel Landon, playing our heroine, her nemesis and a holographic Mae West (among others) and Brock England, the sidekick (among others), while Gibson himself plays the villains, the roguish bandit and the love interest (among others).
They are joined by pianist Harlan Hodges, who provides the score with his bedazzling skills of improvisation, and ultra-kinetic Foley artist Kelly Matthews, dexterously handling her soundscape while giving an equally nimble performance as mute pantomime clown.
Gibson makes us essential to the performance by setting us up as his live studio audience, taking us back to the way things were done in the story’s 1930s context, and encouraging more liveliness than this opening night audience would readily allow for.
Not that they didn’t warm up by the end. It was a thrill to watch these virtuosic voice actors leap between a retinue of larger-than-life characters, with barely a breath; and fascinating to watch Matthews at work, all the while managing jaw-dropping feats of facial contortion that more often than not stole the show.
But, notable though the shift from reticence to uncertain bursts of support and admonition from my neighbours might have been, the show could have used a good dose more of the enthusiasm offered by the younger members of the audience.
As for the ‘full-colour hi-res’ panels, it was strangely these – the source materials – that turned out to be the weakest of the show’s component parts.
Without taking into account the Intergalactic Nemesis’ ugly unmasking at the very top of the show, it seemed that their use of image posed the greatest obstruction to my becoming lost in the fantasy. While the live performances were more than vivid, I would suggest their ‘advanced by hand’ powerpoint presentation somewhat cheapened the effect.
Having said that, The Intergalactic Nemesis is no doubt an entertaining night out, and, while it might not blow your mind, it certainly achieves a whole lot more than your ordinary popcorn flick.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Intergalactic Nemesis
Written by Chad Nichols and Jason Neulander
Adapted and directed by Jason Neulander
Adapted from the radio drama by Ray Patrick Colgan, Jessica Reisman, Julia Edwards, and Lisa D’Amour
Based on an original idea by Ray Patrick Colgan
Comic-book artwork by Tim Doyle
Color art by Paul Hanley and Lee Duhig
Production designed by Jason Neulander
Sound effects created by Buzz Moran
Improvised score by Graham Reynolds
Sound engineering by George R. Stumberg IV
Foley sound effects performed by Kelly Matthews
Piano and organ performed by Harlan Hodges
Cast: Rachel Landon, Brock England and Christopher Lee Gibson
Arts Centre, Melbourne
9 – 13 September 2015
