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THE BULL, THE MOON AND THE CORONET OF STARS
Review

THE BULL, THE MOON AND THE CORONET OF STARS

May 9 2013

THE BULL, THE MOON AND THE CORONET OF STARS, Griffin Theatre Company, Hothouse Theatre and Merrigong Theatre Company at the SBW Stables Theatre, May 2-June 8, 2013. Photos by Brett Boardman of Silvia Colloca and Matt Zeremes.

This is not the play for anyone who's found themselves wandering around a museum worrying about what it might be like to get locked in after closing time - and then become totally freaked out by the possibilities. On the other hand, if you're a fan of Ben Stiller and Night At The Museum (2006), or its follow up, Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), this might be just the evening out for you. 

Inspired by a shard of ancient Greek pottery decorated with the image of a bull that's in Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, the then UK-based Van Badham wrote a "little" radio play. She returned to Australia and Melbourne's Malthouse a while ago and the play has now morphed into a contemporary romantic comedy for the stage. 

It's hopeless to talk about what it's about without ruining the whole thing, but among its inhabitants you will find Ariadne on Naxos, the Minotaur and Theseus. Then there's a museum communications officer named Michael who's contemplating adultery and the museum's in-house artist - Marion - the object of his adulterous gaze. And not forgetting the older ladies' painting and drawing holiday at Portmeirion from which there is apparently no escape, despite the absence of big white bouncing balls.

Badham has a soaring and outrageous imagination and she rarely troubles to reign it in. She's partnered here with Griffin's artistic director Lee Lewis. The latter simultaneously launches and anchors the spiralling whimsy long enough to allow Matt Zeremes (Michael) and Silvia Colloca (Marion) to grasp the characters and situations and the all-important ball of string that leads into and out of the Labyrinth. They are terrific.

THE BULL, THE MOON AND THE CORONET OF STARS

Steve Francis's equally imaginative sound design floats in alternating strands of menace and dream around Anna Tregloan's simple setting (lit with contrasting complexity by Verity Hampson) of varnished timber structures that could be exhibition showcases or chic furniture from IKEA with names like "Lort" and "Klaphat". 

Running at around 80 minutes, The Bull, The Moon and the Coronet is as light and appealing as the cupcakes that form an integral part of the…um…plot. 

And by the way, Silvia Colloca speaks five languages as well as Ridiculously Sexy, sings opera and her cookbook Silvia's Cucina will be published any minute by Penguin Books

 

 

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