This production is like a trip down memory lane. It begins with a riot of collectables that seem deliberately chosen to provoke memory, placed throughout the theatre space. The foyer was filled with curios that could have been rescued from a grandmother’s deceased estate, including old fashioned china, knitted toys, a record player cranking out hits from the 1940’s and 50’s, all available for sale. At show time, the audience was led into the theatre past every conceivable vintage item you could imagine, from romantic 1950’s evening dresses to children’s books from the 60’s, hung on walls, and displayed on dressing tables and sideboards. We were encouraged to linger over the objects before we made our way past a backyard swing, through into the theatre proper.
Upon entering, we saw that the best was kept til last. We were welcomed with an offer of hot chocolate by the performers, who were dressed in 1950’s wrap dresses. To get to our seats, we passed a dramatically dressed stage which resembled a secondhand shop stuffed from floor to ceiling with everything from suitcases and marching band drums, to movie projectors and your mum’s best crystal.
Once seated, master storyteller Penelope Bartlau began to lead us through a world of memory and story using spoken word, shadow puppetry, a slide projector, a recorded voiceover, and audience participation.
To provoke memories she used parcels that she handed out to various audience members, requesting that they unwrap and reminiscence about the object inside the paper. Then, in a performance of seamless improvisatory skills, Bartlau took the collection of memories and wove them into new tales. As she spun her stories of suitcases and sumo wrestlers, we became memories of ourselves, as enchanted as children at story time.
While Bartlau told her stories, Sholes literally played the set, transforming it into a giant foley sound lab for her accompanying improvised story soundscapes. Duetting, the performers were simpatico. Layers and counterpoints that held us in thrall to memories of our childhood, audience stories, the storyteller and the musician were created through the performance.
Again, the best was kept until last. The central question of The Memorandiam was revealed in a satisfying denoument, performed by puppet and puppeteer, which asked us to question the reality of memory itself. This scene was the most powerful in an excellent night at the theatre. The Memorandium is a highly recommended experience.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Barking Spider Visual Theatre present
The Memorandium
Penelope Bartlau: Performer/Creator & Co-Director
Leah Scholes: Percussionist/Composer
Jason Lehane: Set & Lighting Design and Co-Director
Dan Goronszy: Puppetry Director & Designer
Theatre Works, St Kilda
August 16 – September 1
