THIS YEAR'S ASHES
THIS YEAR’S ASHES Griffin Theatre Company at the SBW Stables theatre; 7 October-19 November 2011. Photos: Brett Boardman; Nathan Lovejoy and Belinda Bromilow; right Belinda Bromilow.
ELLEN should be happy, after all she’s professionally successful, thirty-something and gorgeous and she lives in Sydney. What’s not to be happy about? That’s the mythology of Emerald City however; the reality is often rather different. Ellen is not happy; she’s not even just a bit depressed or slightly down in the dumps. Truth is Ellen (Belinda Bromilow) is trying hard – but currently failing – to drink herself to death. In between times she’s trying hard for permanent amnesia all the while shagging a succession of strangers until she’s senseless with boredom and self-loathing. She also keeps the blinds closed to avoid looking out the window at the harbour glimpses, sunshine and life that’s going on out there. Ellen is desperately sad.
This is a surprisingly good premise for a wry romantic comedy. At least it is in the hands of playwright Jane Bodie, the already-mentioned Bromilow and the very funny and intelligent Nathan Lovejoy – as a series of her shags. Add the sweet gravitas of Tony Llewellyn-Jones as Brian, her dad, for ballast and contrast and the balance is just about perfect. That’s the mix of ingredients director Shannon Murphy has assembled and they’re cooking.
Brian has been away for a couple of unexplained years but is miraculously back in time for the Ashes. Cricket is something father and daughter had in common and the plan is to listen to the fifth Test on the radio together. It’s not that simple though – life never is – and there is an underlying despair in Ellen’s very apparent isolation that tempers the comedy in an engrossing and unusual way.
Belinda Bromilow is a fine actor and works well with Shannon Murphy, as anyone will recall who saw their previous collaboration, the dramatic and tragic My Name Is Rachel Corrie. This time their comedic muscles are getting a work out and the end result is as entertaining and reveals yet more talent. Just as eye opening is Nathan Lovejoy: his subtle and nuanced comedy thinking is a total delight. This Year’s Ashes has perhaps one too many false endings and obvious twists to make it brilliant, but it’s a fine and thoughtful entertainment with a lot of laughs and uncommon emotional truths. Recommended.
