Alana’s Score: 4 Bananas
Nick Jones’ Trevor will take you on a journey. It starts in one place, and takes you somewhere entirely different from where you thought you’d end up. Presented by Outhouse Theatre Co. in association with bAKEHOUSE Theatre Co., this is one production you don’t want to miss.
Jones has based his clever script on the real-life events of Travis the Chimp, a 14-year-old male chimpanzee raised from infancy in suburban Connecticut by his owner Sandra.
Here, the chimp’s name is Trevor, and we meet him at a time when both he and Sandra are trying to navigate the complexities of domestic life. Trevor has performed in a couple of commercials, so he’s become fairly well-known in the community. He loves Sandra, and has become used to life at home, watching TV, sipping wine, eating at the table. But lately he’s become restless, taking Sandra’s keys and going for drives… and just generally being reckless. His behaviour is beginning to raise some eyebrows.
It feels like a sit-com to begin with, with a living room bathed in warm light and an energetic cast. But don’t get lulled into a false sense of security – there’s a lot more going on than you might think.
Shaun Rennie directs the fabulous cast with a wonderfully dynamic approach, allowing them to find some extraordinary moments of truth balanced with some fantastic physical comedy.
Di Adams gives a heartfelt performance as Sandra, the loving, protective mother who is dangerously unaware of the inevitable storm about to it. Garth Holcombe as Trevor’s fellow show chimp Oliver is delightfully camp and funny, and Ainslie McGlynn is compelling as concerned neighbour Ashley.
But this show belongs to Jamie Oxenbould. His physicality of Trevor, and his incredible talent for comedy and timing, make him the perfect choice for this role. He landed every beat, didn’t once drop out of character, and simultaneously managed to pull at heartstrings and quicken heartrates in a single moment. Oxenbould captures the innocence of a creature who doesn’t know his own strength, who longs for a life long gone, and who experiences pain and sorrow and guilt and joy and the whole spectrum of emotion – but doesn’t know the right way to express it.
Accent work is a tad shaky to begin with, but thankfully settles down not long into the show.
Set design by Jonathon Hindmarsh is quirky and detailed, supported nicely by Kelsey Lee’s lights (used to great effect to differentiate between Trevor’s reality and fantasy).
You’ll definitely laugh, you may shift uncomfortably in your seat, you might grimace and you could well cry – but you’ll definitely leave the theatre more affected than when you came in.
Photography: Clare Hawley
Alana Kaye – Theatre Now Sydney
Trevor
Nick Jones
14 Jun – 6 Jul 2019
Tue – Sat 7:30pm
Sun 5pm
Venue: Kings Cross Theatre
Theatre Company: Outhouse Theatre Co
Duration: Approximate run time 75 minutes
Trevor is a has been. The auditions have dried up and his days as a television actor are behind him. But, Trevor has dreams. He wants another shot at the big time. And, above all, to re-unite with his former commercial co-star, Morgan Fairchild. However, it’s tough to make a comeback in Hollywood. Particularly, if you are a chimpanzee. Like Trevor.
Inspired by true events, Trevor is a subversive comedy about fame, flawed communication and love.
And, the lies we tell ourselves to keep people – anyone – from taking away an erratic, beloved 200-pound chimpanzee.
Producer Jeremy Waters
Featuring Di Adams; Jamie Oxenbould
Ticket Prices
Early Bird Tickets $25
Season ticket Prices not available at time of publication
