La Mama brings theatre makers Rachael Dyson-McGregor and Mike McEvoy back for a return season of their engaging verbatim performance, Two Mortals, from 20 February – 2 March at La Mama Courthouse.
Two Mortals is a conversation about death and dying that comes from those people who know about it best – or at least as much as it possible to know without having actually been through it. The devised script has been created from a series of interviews with people that work in palliative care, hospitals, funeral parlours, churches and most poignantly, those who have lost someone close them or who are approaching death themselves.
The result is a beautifully woven dialogue of stories that approach the subject of mortality from every angle: from the scientific to the spiritual, from the profound to the hilarious (yes apparently death can be funny), and from what death actually means to what we think happens afterwards.
In places, the performers also use a technique called ‘headphone verbatim’. This is where the original audio is played through earpieces to the actors, who then mirror the speakers’ vocal patterns and breath, as well as speaking aloud the exact dialogue. The verbatim aspect even extends to include the audience, with pre-show interviews being performed by the actors on the night and introducing moments of audience Q&A within the theatre piece, meaning that each performance is truly unique.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of verbatim theatre is the accuracy required and the responsibility of representing real people and their stories. At times, this show can begin to feel a little voyeuristic, listening to the accounts of the nurses, carers and other professionals who have contributed their thoughts and anecdotes about people who have died. It makes me wonder how I’d feel about my family’s stories, or even my own, being told in such a forum. However, Dyson-McGregor and McEvoy perform extremely well and present a series of well-defined and detailed portrayals that pay respect to these poignant and touching narratives.
The space in La Mama Courthouse seems like the perfect setting for a performance that speaks of such intimate things, creating a small, private world where these discussions can happen. The beautiful lighting design by Bronwyn Pringle also enhances the emotive nature of the text and creates a slow, shadowy feel to the piece, where pockets of light and dark are scattered across the stage. Inventive use of simple staging and props also gives the performance a physical edge, bringing the dialogue to life and creating an interesting visual accompaniment to the actors’ engaging voices.
Although this is a confronting subject for many, it is handled wholly appropriately by this performance, which is not only enjoyable but also surprisingly uplifting. So, if spending an evening listening to people talk about death initially seems a little morbid, and not what you would like to be doing with your non-dead time, then think again. While Two Mortals inevitably makes you consider the issue of human mortality, it will also have you emerging from the theatre feeling very much alive, and immensely grateful to be so.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Two Mortals
Devised and performed by Rachael Dyson-McGregor & Mike McEvoy
Directed by Geoff Pinfield
Sound design and composition by Beatrice Lewis
Lighting design by Bronwyn Pringle
Promo image and set by Jamie Boys
Promo & development videos by Justin Batchelor www.batchedit.com.au
Made from interviews with Jane Groom, Arnica and Jack Healey-Cottrell, Ron McEvoy, Mark Milton, Anne Myers, Rachel Nash, Genevieve Roberts, Nikki Rydon, Alex Sangster & Lauren White
Also featuring found audio from Stacey Holmstedt, Michael Jackson & Martin Bashir
La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St, Carlton
www.lamama.com.au
10 February – 2 March
