Jasper Jones, MTC, Sumner Theatre, Wednesday August 24th 2016
For those new to my blog I write about the holistic experience of attending the theatre. I buy my own tickets. So if you want a re-telling of the story please refer to the links for further information or for further insights. Note, that I may provide different links for repeated main words or phrases. I write for my memories of what I have seen, and is more of a stream of consciousness.
"Jasper Jones" brings up memories from the summer of 1965. I had just turned six years old and I remember my childhood memories so vividly as if yesterday. This sense of memory was accurately translated by Kate Mulvany from Craig Silveys' book.
The book and play "Jasper Jones" reminds many of "To Kill A Mockingbird". To me it has echos of the film version of "Intruder In the Dust" which preceded "To Kill A Mockingbird" with its themes of justice and racial discrimination. "Jasper Jones" also reminds me of the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" with wanting to solve the murder of Laura Wishart. (By the way I hope that the Broadway or London play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" tours to Australia soon!).
"Jasper Jones" is patchy at times and both my partner and myself thought it was a bit laboured and overlong. This did not take away from our enjoyment of the play as there are so many wonderful aspects of this production. The script was quite didactic and was full of four letter words. In 1965 "bloody" and "bastard" were frowned upon. The use of four letter words was a bit over done and not as accurate for a country town in 1965. Maybe they needed the phrase "I'll put Velvet soap on your tongue" inserted into the script.
The three young male members of the cast actually take centre stage here with their credible performances. The other actors vary in their ability to convey a truth in their performances.
Jasper Jones was ably played by Guy Simon and engaged with the audience quickly. The sighs from the audience revealed Guy Simon's ability for us to empathise with Jasper Jones' plight. Guy Simon brought this fourteen year old to life: both physically and vocally.
Charlie Bucktin was played by Nicholas Denton with a geek-like naivety. He had a wonderful rapport with Jasper Jones and his Vietnamese mate Jeffrey Lu played by Harry Tseng. Their relationship of young teenage boys was played with honesty and captured our hearts. Their adventures outlined the issues of 1965 succinctly - the bullying and racism, Their sense of adventure and super-hero antics captured the school yard conversations and imagination.
The remaining cast varied in their roles - some becoming cartoon-esque and others not quite capturing the coldness of authority required.
The real star of this production is the director Sam Strong who has assembled an incredible technical crew to bring his vision to life.
Set and Costume Design by Anna Cordingley captured the essence of a small Australian town. The revolving set with dam on stage right and the dug up ground on stage left created an additional element of realism. We saw "Masquerade" which also used a revolve effectively for transitions and scene changes.
Anna Cordingley's costumes gave the impression of 1965. A shame they did not use the plastic sandals instead of the more modern sandals.
Lighting Design by Matt Scott enhanced the atmosphere. The emotional context was used effectively in the colours chosen to light the cyclorama backdrop.
The Composer and Sound Designer, Darrin Verhagen captured the spirit of youth, country parochialism and isolation. The planes flying above sounded so real as they flew overhead creating a sense of menace and urgency.
The Director, Sam Strong has used transitions between scenes seamlessly. The entrances and exits of characters around the revolve emphasised the town of Corrigan. The ending of Act One and the opening of Act Two was magical as if we had just had a television advertisement break.
We saw Sam Strong's production of "Masquerade" and his trademark of seamless transitions is to be admired.
Sam Strong has enabled his young actors to physically and emotionally attach to the awkwardness of being a teenager.
The reveal scene of Charlie's mother was lost by about ten per cent of the audience as they could not see what was happening. Some audience members were laughing and others curious as to what was happening. This was a design and sight line issue.
Classic iconic images of Australia were used throughout the production. The push lawn mower and the cricket stumps are two examples that were used effectively.
The secrets and story surrounding Jasper Jones are touching. There are some cliches in the story telling but it is a good yarn. The scene when Jasper and Charlie confront Mad Jack Lionel is given away very early if you listen carefully.
The denouement scene by Eliza Wishart played by Taylor Ferguson lacked the intensity of revealing such a dark secret. The delivery was measured and lacked an emotional depth of distress. It even lacked a suppressed lack of distress. Taylor Ferguson played the dual roles of the sisters Laura and Eliza. She made a clear distinction between the dual two sisters and made me double take if it was in fact the same actress.
The ending is satisfying without being patronising. We all have secrets from when we were teenagers. I think it does leave it open for a follow up book - but then again that may spoil the magic and mystery of "Jasper Jones".
Overall my partner and myself both agreed this production deserved a 7/10.
The book and play "Jasper Jones" reminds many of "To Kill A Mockingbird". To me it has echos of the film version of "Intruder In the Dust" which preceded "To Kill A Mockingbird" with its themes of justice and racial discrimination. "Jasper Jones" also reminds me of the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" with wanting to solve the murder of Laura Wishart. (By the way I hope that the Broadway or London play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" tours to Australia soon!).
"Jasper Jones" is patchy at times and both my partner and myself thought it was a bit laboured and overlong. This did not take away from our enjoyment of the play as there are so many wonderful aspects of this production. The script was quite didactic and was full of four letter words. In 1965 "bloody" and "bastard" were frowned upon. The use of four letter words was a bit over done and not as accurate for a country town in 1965. Maybe they needed the phrase "I'll put Velvet soap on your tongue" inserted into the script.
The three young male members of the cast actually take centre stage here with their credible performances. The other actors vary in their ability to convey a truth in their performances.
Jasper Jones was ably played by Guy Simon and engaged with the audience quickly. The sighs from the audience revealed Guy Simon's ability for us to empathise with Jasper Jones' plight. Guy Simon brought this fourteen year old to life: both physically and vocally.
Charlie Bucktin was played by Nicholas Denton with a geek-like naivety. He had a wonderful rapport with Jasper Jones and his Vietnamese mate Jeffrey Lu played by Harry Tseng. Their relationship of young teenage boys was played with honesty and captured our hearts. Their adventures outlined the issues of 1965 succinctly - the bullying and racism, Their sense of adventure and super-hero antics captured the school yard conversations and imagination.
The remaining cast varied in their roles - some becoming cartoon-esque and others not quite capturing the coldness of authority required.
The real star of this production is the director Sam Strong who has assembled an incredible technical crew to bring his vision to life.
Set and Costume Design by Anna Cordingley captured the essence of a small Australian town. The revolving set with dam on stage right and the dug up ground on stage left created an additional element of realism. We saw "Masquerade" which also used a revolve effectively for transitions and scene changes.
Anna Cordingley's costumes gave the impression of 1965. A shame they did not use the plastic sandals instead of the more modern sandals.
Lighting Design by Matt Scott enhanced the atmosphere. The emotional context was used effectively in the colours chosen to light the cyclorama backdrop.
The Composer and Sound Designer, Darrin Verhagen captured the spirit of youth, country parochialism and isolation. The planes flying above sounded so real as they flew overhead creating a sense of menace and urgency.
The Director, Sam Strong has used transitions between scenes seamlessly. The entrances and exits of characters around the revolve emphasised the town of Corrigan. The ending of Act One and the opening of Act Two was magical as if we had just had a television advertisement break.
We saw Sam Strong's production of "Masquerade" and his trademark of seamless transitions is to be admired.
Sam Strong has enabled his young actors to physically and emotionally attach to the awkwardness of being a teenager.
The reveal scene of Charlie's mother was lost by about ten per cent of the audience as they could not see what was happening. Some audience members were laughing and others curious as to what was happening. This was a design and sight line issue.
Classic iconic images of Australia were used throughout the production. The push lawn mower and the cricket stumps are two examples that were used effectively.
The secrets and story surrounding Jasper Jones are touching. There are some cliches in the story telling but it is a good yarn. The scene when Jasper and Charlie confront Mad Jack Lionel is given away very early if you listen carefully.
The denouement scene by Eliza Wishart played by Taylor Ferguson lacked the intensity of revealing such a dark secret. The delivery was measured and lacked an emotional depth of distress. It even lacked a suppressed lack of distress. Taylor Ferguson played the dual roles of the sisters Laura and Eliza. She made a clear distinction between the dual two sisters and made me double take if it was in fact the same actress.
The ending is satisfying without being patronising. We all have secrets from when we were teenagers. I think it does leave it open for a follow up book - but then again that may spoil the magic and mystery of "Jasper Jones".
Overall my partner and myself both agreed this production deserved a 7/10.
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