Heartworm

Heartworm is a metaphoric title, reflecting the emotional highs and lows travelled in the minutiae of a week in the life of a suburban Perth vet, and giving the sustained and distinct impression of a character close to the edge, living in the margins of social and emotional fulfilment. The main character examines her relationships with her “better half”, her teenaged “progeny”, her work colleagues, female relatives from her past, her veterinary vocation, her health, her vanished dreams of youth… and the young hard-bodied eye candy at the gym. Heartworm avoids becoming “yet another play” about menopausal crisis and existential angst, bringing darkly humorous insights, science-fiction references and technical deftness to the treatment of these themes.

As the performer, Shirley Van Sanden delivered a notably sustained solo performance, carrying all the roles with seeming ease. Particularly admirable was her ability to clearly take each side of a conversation and convey the impression of a chaotically crowded vet clinic, with no more than a chair and a table on the bare stage with her. Her confidence and deft comic timing work well with her physical humour and believable animal impressions to mix some levity into the drama while also showcasing her considerable range of dramatic prowess.

The technical side impressed with incredibly tight timing, fitting in precisely with the flow of the monologue, while integrated graphic projections created the set, enhanced the clarity of meaning and assisted with narrative flow. The sound work was spot on throughout, with effects and stings setting time and place without a hitch. The focus pulling on the images closely reflected the time and distance in memory of each anecdote.

The script could have been workshopped or edited down and still showcased plenty of the small details culminating in the character’s crisis. Van Sanden has put a lot of work into this show but could have benefited from further editorial or directorial input to give her strong performance a punchier storyline to carry over some slower sections. Within the extended character monologues, some animal disease metaphors were a little strained and over-stretched. At risk of spoiling the ending, Van Sanden – as writer – adroitly avoids the looming descent into despair but the bittersweet happily ever after resolution is a little flippant given the emotional intensity of what has gone before.

Heartworm rewards close attention from audiences with skilfully presented and thoughtful material, provoking post-theatre discussion on a satisfyingly diverse range of topics.

Rating: 3 stars

Heartworm
by Shirley Van Sanden
Writer, Co-Director and Performer Shirley Van Sanden
Co-Director / Sound Designer Craig Williams
Digital Designer Nancy Jones
Technical Operator Katrina Johnston
Lighting Designer Joe Lui
Cast: Shirley Van Sanden

The Blue Room Theatre
November 8–26 2011