Art galleries are perhaps the most accepting and tolerant places to be. Everyone’s opinion is equally valid, equally valuable. Because each one of us brings to a viewing of art our own life. And our lives colour our perceptions.
Amber (Cara Severino) takes a job, any job, to escape her past and tiny country town. Bright and curious, she has almost no education or experience. The job lands her in the Modern Room of the NSW Art Gallery as a guard and her life takes on a whole new perspective. Overhearing a teacher offering a group of students various interpretations, her interest in a modernist piece – The Kiss – is piqued. Interacting with co-workers and visitors allows her to understand how art affects the individual and how the individual life creates meaning. A lucky (if somewhat dubious) event sets her on an international career.
The Sydney Philharmonic Choirs Hall is a lovely choice for this intimate play. The walls, decorated with posters from the Choirs’ past, loom above the actors, providing the colour, texture and sense of a real art gallery in the simplest way. The basic black of costuming is set off with white T-shirts sprayed with colour and costume changes to accommodate a range of characters that enter and leave Amber’s life.
And throughout all, Philip Eames exquisitely plays music, the compositions of which are art forms themselves.
Severino delivers a suitably keen and innocent Amber and is matched Justin Amankwah’s Charles, the love of her life, although at times his dialogue was a little hard to hear. Chole Schwank and Jesse Northam play a multitude of minor roles with a range of success. There is unevenness in the characterisations which may come from the many portrayals each undertakes – perhaps a challenge too far. Schwank’s best is Amber’s sister Karen and Northam achieves a moment of true tenderness when , as Mr Black, he speaks of his son’s death.
There is a tendency these days to present one act plays of 90 minutes or so, without interval. For this, you need to have complete engagement with the audience and I felt that at times the script lost me. There is constant repetition of back story and a “telling” rather than “showing” the audience. The concept is intriguing and fresh, but the script is overwritten. It is hard for a writer to let go of some of their words but Carol Dance needs to cut a total of about ten minutes out of the play. Eliminate the repetitions and over explanations and then we would have a story which does not let us off the hook. The end seems somewhat contrived. And unnecessary. We could have finished with the kiss.
Kate Stratford – Theatre Now
Kiss of the Gallery Guard
Carol Dance
11th-26th May
Fri & Sat 8pm
Sun 3pm
Venue: Philharmonia Choirs Hall
Theatre Company:
Duration: Two hours including interval
