“good quality independent theatre“
“The performances are strong, particularly for such young actors, with Joshua Shediak’s Wil a standout”
“the humour is light but packs plenty a laugh out loud punch”
– Suzanne Mackay
3.5 stars
There’re only another few performances left of Rogue Projects Wil and Grace so firstly – go and see it as soon as you can. The play is sweet and funny with some nice reflective moments, but most importantly it’s good quality independent theatre which has long been missing in Sydney, and it deserves support. Wil and Grace is a short sharp piece of theatre which reflects on grief and the trials of adulthood, the humour is light but packs plenty a laugh out loud punch. Coming of age/personal/adulting pieces can tend towards overindulgence but writer Madeleine Withington and director Erica Lovell avoid this with some well placed absurd comedy and tongue in cheek insight.
On a dark and stormy night Varya, (Suz Mawer) in an attempt to distract her flatmate Grace (Madeleine Withington) accidentally summons a long dead playwright. Why else would there suddenly be a half naked English man asleep on the couch? What follows is an exploration of belief and the things we hang our hopes on, as we watch Grace wishing so hard for something she knows is not possible, until she ends up believing it herself. Haven’t we all been there?
The performances are strong, particularly for such young actors, with Joshua Shediak’s Wil a standout, his timing and physical ease make it easy to see why Grace is convinced he’s supernatural. The play is well directed and moves seamlessly through time and space and although Madeleine Withington wrote and performs in the title role, it doesn’t slip into indulgence and remains relevant and broad in its themes. There were things which could be tightened, I wanted to know more about the relationship between Grace and Varya, perhaps some variation in the delivery of Varya’s machinations but these are things which work themselves out throughout the run of a play and during repeat seasons. I for one hope this is the start of things for those involved in this play and post lockdown Sydney sees a burgeoning ‘off Broadway’ scene develop where plays like this can keep growing.
Independant theatre production is a tough gig and not for the fainthearted, but it’s the only chance we have to create a place for young artists to experiment. With good practical training in performance disappearing from our tertiary institutions, production companies like Rogue Projects fill the void and allow young voices to be heard, and the main stage theatres will benefit in the future with the experience that comes from independent theatre.
So, there’re only a few more performances left of Wil and Grace – go and see it as soon as you can!
Suzanne Mackay, Theatre Now
Photography: Noni Carroll
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