Tue 13 Oct 2015 In: Entertainment View at Wayback View at NDHA
Unrequited love between two women and a modern take on a play written in 1888 as part of an Experimental Theatre Project, witness as friends, strangers and colleagues unravel as they confront each other. In the original play by August Strindberg the final scene sees two women, old friends and rivals, bump into each other in a bar and as they engage in a one-sided conversation one of them soon realises that the other has been having an affair with her husband. Struggling with the clash between artistic life and domestic life, dreams versus reality, the tale of two women unfolds. Playwright Nathan Joe says after having previously written two short plays for the Legacy Project that were very male-centric, he wanted to write something that had a stronger emphasis on femininity. “While there is only a minor gay romantic storyline in the play, it feels like an essential component to the show as a whole,” he says. He speaks of storytelling as a way to explore a characters sexuality without needing to be too overt saying; “Extra attention isn't drawn onto the character's sexuality any more than any of the others, it's just a part of who she is rather than a big plot point. “I think it's great that queer storytelling is moving away from needing to 'come out' and just be a matter of fact. More important than her sexuality is her projection of romantic feelings onto an actress and colleague.” Each scene takes place in a different space in the Basement Bar, including upstairs in the green room, so prepare to be taken on a journey as the relationship between characters unfolds. The Basement Theatre, Auckland 28-30 of October Koha entry The Lucha Lounge, Auckland 4-7 November $5 entry GayNZ.com Daily News staff - 13th October 2015
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 13th October 2015 - 12:07pm