Now, many years later and regarded as a struggling, relatively obscure artist, Barry is unexpectedly visited by two women: his estranged daughter Alex (Michelle Doake), who he has not seen in more than 20 years; and young Daisy (Jessica Sullivan).
There’s a lot of discussion of the role of the government and arts funding, and artists struggling to survive in the cut-throat arts world. Playwright Geoffrey Atherden (Mother and Son asks: what is an artist’s life for? What is the purpose of art? Can – or should – we separate the viewing of an art work from what we know of an artist’s life? Should a great artist (such as Caravaggio or Polanski) be forgiven everything because of their oeuvre?
A lot of the show focuses also on the role of the artist in society: as agent provocateur, shocking and challenging us, making us think. But it also looks at how the role of the artist and professional and family life are interwoven. Can someone lead a happy, healthy family life and be a great artist as well? On these counts in particular, Barry has failed. Estranged from his wife and daughter, he is suffering from artist’s block and black depression. With haunted, hypnotic eyes, Zappa is superb in the role – he is powerful, magnetic and passionate, with allusions to Picasso and Whiteley. Full of machismo and bravado (fancy calling an exhibition series My Big C**k!), his life and work was full of women and booze – or was it?
As Alex, Michelle Doake is great. Embittered, embarrassed, she has become something of a control freak. She is ruthless, yet underneath there is an overwhelming loneliness and a longing for reconciliation with her father. Her monologue is fabulous – a brief dash through art history from the Lascaux cave paintings through to minimalist, op, pop and abstract art. Brilliant.
Fresh and vibrant, with a fabulous eye and great talent, Daisy is a very pretty Norman Lindsay nymph in a short sundress, with blonde braided hair. An art student at Swinburne, she ends up being selected to hang in the Archibald Prize. And she inspires Barry in unexpected – and explosive – ways.
Director Mark Kilmurry and his cast have a fabulous time with Atherden’s sometimes savage, sarcastic language (and there is a lot of strong language) in this exciting world premiere. Kilmurry’s direction is excellent and the cast thrive under his guidance. Steven Butler brings his wonderful set – of a cluttered dirty, jam-packed studio – to life; you can smell the paints and turps.
A fabulous, questioning celebration of the meaning of art and life.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Warning: Explicit Material
By Geoffrey Atherden
An Ensemble Theatre production
Director: Mark Kilmurry
Cast: William Zappa, Michelle Doake, Jessica Sullivan
Designer: Steven Butler
Lighting Designer: Peter Neufeld
Wardrobe coordinator: Lisa Mimmocchi
Ensemble Theatre
October 27–December 10, 2011
