Rory Kelly and Andrea Swifte in Trevor. Photograph via Red Stitch Actors Theatre.
At the genetic level, humans and chimpanzees differ by a measly five percent so it isn’t surprising that the anthropomorphisation of apes for the purpose of entertainment seems to tickle us just right. But why? Do we see some juvenile part of ourselves in them? Do we like making ourselves appear ridiculous? Does it make us feel superior? Trevor doesn’t so much answer these questions as it does throw poop at them with hilariously accuracy. It humanises apes and apes humans and in doing so reveals something about the fantasies that the simian brain is compelled to create.
Trevor is a chimpanzee in human form who has experienced his fifteen minutes of fame and is desperate to return permanently to the spotlight. But he doesn’t quite understand the reality he craves. Rory Kelly is phenomenal in the title role. He balances youthful naivety with choleric mood swings and desperate vulnerability to create a character whose pathology is perfectly attuned. You empathise with Trevor and see his path as intractable but his outlandish fall still twists and turns in the most captivating ways. Key to this is Kelly’s ability to skirt the boundaries of understanding between the human and non-human characters. Along with Oliver, Dion Mills, Trevor can both clearly define their understanding of humans and get it just wrong enough to create the fault lines that drive the story.
Sandra, Andrea Swifte, provides the ideal foil for the erratic and charming Trevor. A stage mother with infinite patience and compassion, Sandra is no wallflower. Her love for Trevor is real, as is her determination to protect him because her needs become so intertwined with his. Trevor exposes the flaws in other characters too. From highly strung neighbour, Eva Seymour, to well-meaning police officer, Andrew Gilbert, something about Trevor’s exuberance and lack of restraint evokes something quintessential in each of the characters.
Trevor forces his audience to reconsider measures of appropriateness, family, connection, ambition and loss. His inherent lack of meaningful self-reflection gives human drives a strange and challenging dimension. Like hearing a recording of your own voice, Trevor’s story offers an alternative point of view that is both undeniably true and instinctively false.
Though the performances take centre stage, Trevor is cleverly constructed and directed and Red Stitch proves once again, why it enjoys the outstanding reputation that it does. Trevor is eccentric without trying too hard and is able to seamlessly blend the zany with the heartfelt. Whether you’re a fan of cat memes, smoking monkeys or intriguing humans (or all three) Trevor is sure to satisfy.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Trevor By Nick Jones
Directed by Denis Moore
Cast: Kevin Hofbauer, Rory Kelly, Dion Mills, Eva Seymour, Andrea Swifte, Andrew Gilbert & Angela Kennedy
Set & Costume: Adrienne Chisholm
Lighting: Daniel Anderson
Sound Installation: Dawn Holland
Stage Manager: Jacinta Anderson
Assistant Stage Manager: Jasmine Persse
Redstitch
26 July – 26 August 2016
