Jo and I went to see a live performance by the Harvest Rain theatre company yesterday. So glad we did, we were not disappointed by the performance despite Jo feeling a bit under the weather with a tummy bug.
From the moment we took our front row seats in the audience, it was like stepping into the play ourselves. The stage was set as a dressing room and the “chicks” busied themselves in preparation for their performance. One of the girls floated around the audience offering her jar of “the most delicious lollies”.
Watching this performance was like watching a group of girls having the time of their lives with outrageous costumes, makeup and Shakespeare’s plays! The fun was infectious and the gags were non-stop.
The highlight of the performance for me, was the most serious part – an enactment of the scene in Othello where he kills Desdemona. There were two enactments of the scene: in the first, the actors hammed up the performance to demonstrate how little empathy the writer could have had for women. The second enactment was pure drama, a jealous, violent husband and terrified wife..
Although it was my favourite part, it did not fit well into the rest of the show. Some of the audience did not seem to pick up the shift from comedy to drama, and tittered inappropriately.
I came away from the show feeling entertained, and highly impressed with the ability of the actors, particularly Sarah McCoy who showed immense range: from a bubbly bimbo, to a diabolical Lady Macbeth, then an estranged Othello. Hers is one name I shall watch out for!
Reviews:
612 ABC Brisbane – Justine Cawley
The Courier Mail – Emma Rodgers