3 and a half Kleenex
At the beginning of Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam we know that something isn’t right. Ben (Liam Nunan) is now eighteen years old and has been advised by his therapist to seek answers. He meets with a priest that knew his family, then a doctor that knew his family and slowly, through the course of the play the traumatic events are revealed.
Without giving too much away, this award-winning play written by Steve Rodgers (based on the novella by Peter Goldsworthy) aims to explore ideas around religion, love and death through the lens of a family that is so close knit that they become isolated. Linda (Emma Jackson) and Rick (Matthew Whittet) meet as young idealistic Uni students, fall in love and have a couple of kids. They work, go to church, make sure the kids see their grandparents and are blissfully happy as a family playing silly games and following the daily routine until they receive devastating news.
As we are led to believe from the beginning of the play, something awful does happen. Dramatically tense from beginning to end there is no relief in the unravelling of Ben’s story; things go from sad to sadder. Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam approaches this dark subject matter cerebrally rather than emotionally and we, the audience, are removed from the warmth of the family through the distancing effect of looking back at events through Ben’s eyes.
Master Director Darren Yap steers a steady ship and this piece has landed comfortably on the Belvoir stage after its production in 2018 by the National Theatre of Parramatta. Emma Vine’s set design is playfully pretty and the large central plinth filled with books is refreshing to see on stage. Lighting by Verity Hampson and sound by Max Lambert are both subtle and sophisticated, supporting the actors and letting the story unfold gently.
Performances are strong but the family unit are not given enough time to establish themselves without the impending sense of doom. Matthew Whittet is tender and charming and plays the daggy Dad with righteous inner strength. Emma Jackson oscillates between the present day cold detached grieving Mother and the fiery young Mum. Mark Lee and Valerie Bader play strong supporting roles as the grandparents, priest and doctor. Liam Nunan carries the story and switches between twelve year old Ben and eighteen year old Ben with ease and clarity. We can see the lively young boy struggling into adulthood. Grace Truman is very sweet as young sister Wol and brings dignity to her role. The only moment in the play where we are allowed into the family’s grief is when she releases a vocal cry of from deep within herself that rocks the core of even the coldest member of the audience. It is an incredible moment in the theatre.
The impossibility of the family situation and their deep love is reflected by but never answered. The choices made by parents Linda and Rick are not really examined and we are not drawn into the tight knit family or their grief. Maybe as a culture we have become desensitised to the death and misery if it isn’t on a global scale.
If only Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam had scratched beneath the surface of the story rather than presenting it through the window we may exit the theatre knowing, feeling and understanding a little more about ourselves and the complex domestic worlds around us.
Fiona Hallenan-Barker, Theatre Now
6 Feb – 8 Mar 2020
Venue: Belvoir: Upstairs Theatre
Theatre Company: Belvoir
Duration: N/A
Tuesday 6.30pm
Wednesday 6.30pm
Thursday 1pm & 7.30pm
Friday 7.30pm
Saturday 2pm & 7.30pm
Sunday 5pm
Thursday Matinee
1pm, 13 February
1pm, 5 March
Schools Performance
11.30am. 26 February
Standard $68 – $83
Mates rates, Senior, Concession Under 30 and Student Savers available.
Previews: $51 – $56
Tickets may have added surcharges to them
Unwaged
11.30am, 20 February
Previews
7.30pm, 6 February
Audio Captioned Performance
2pm, 15 February
Post Show Q&A
18 February, directly following the performance
Written by Peter Goldsworthy
Adapted for the stage by Steve Rodgers
Belvoir presents Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta production.
The Pollard family’s world is flipped on its head when illness breaches their sanctuary. Based on the novella by acclaimed Adelaide author Peter Goldsworthy, Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam is a powerful reminder of what we do for those we love.
This one played at Parramatta and had them weeping in the aisles. It’s a detailed, humane depiction of the universe that can exist in a small family – which makes it a perfect show for Belvoir. – Eamon Flack, Artistic Director
★★★★ ½ – The Sydney Morning Herald
“This is stunning theatre” – Sydney Arts Guide
CAST
Valerie Bader
Emma Jackson
Mark Lee
Liam Nunan
Set & Costume Designer Emma Vine
Lighting Designer Verity Hampson
Composer & Sound Designer Max Lambert & Sean Peter
