Re-Member Me, Dickie Beau, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne, Wednesday October 17th 2018

Re-Member Me, Dickie Beau, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne, Wednesday October 17th 2018

"Re-Member Me" by Dickie Beau was presented by the Melbourne International Arts Festival, at the Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne, on Wednesday October 17th 2018.

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.

Created and Performed by Dickie Beau, with Collaborator and Director Jan-willem van den Bosch have devised a wonderful piece of theatre to honour many actors and directors of Hamlet.

Dickie Beau's research is impeccable to clarify some myths about some actors playing the role of Hamlet.

The Fairfax Studio is littered with de-constructed shop mannequins and costumes; there is a hard-copy of Hamlet spotlighted down-stage centre.  A wheelchair is upstage right.  There is a skull and crown centre stage.

Shadow play begins the show with Dickie Beau's silhouette projected through a curtain.  We are seeing the origins of theatre in this ancient shadow theatre as he sits on a hospital trolley and contorts his body into many different angles.  He prepares for the role of Hamlet as if preparing for a sporting event.  In hindsight he is preparing for his final role as if Ian Charleson is preparing for death, and possibly to be reincarnated.

In fact Dickie Beau channels Ian Charleson who took over the role of Hamlet when Daniel Day Lewis suddenly could not continue the part.  Dickie Beau provides the truth to the real story and clarifies what is myth.

He immediately gains the audience's attention with his lip-syncing Sir John Gielgud.  The shadow brings out every nuanced breath and mannerism of Dickie Beau.  He channels Sir John Gielgud, Sir Ian McKellen, and Sir Richard Eyre,   The research and physical differences between each characterisation is outstanding.  The breaths, gulps and other idiosyncrasies are all exposed, as they segue to each new thought by the different characters.

The show has a screen above the curtained area where four faces of Dickie Beau overlook proceedings.  Dickie Beau lip-syncs to each of the four different people.  The technical timing of sound, vision and synchronisation with Dickie Beau lip-syncing is superb.

There are some cultural modern gay references with different songs that bring immediate laughter from the audience.

Dickie Beau plays Stephen Ashby, the former dresser at the Royal National Theatre, who cleans up the mannequins and dresses them on chairs, and re-assembles the mannequins and re-dresses them again to create silhouettes.  The hospital style curtains are opened that add a clinical element to reveal the mannequins as if on display in a museum.  This reveal becomes more evident as potentially cruel exposing Ian Charleson's life and death on display.  It reminded me of the side-shows where you sneak a peek at something forbidden.

Ultimately, Dickie Beau is deconstructing and reconstructing both Hamlet and Ian Charleson.  The final image of dressing the mannequin of Ian Charleson in his pyjamas is very moving.  Placing the skull at the top of the mannequin's neck completes his body as if reunited with his soul of Hamlet.
Dickie Beau sits on a chair reading a copy of Hamlet as if a carer and protector.

"Re-Member Me" was produced for the Under the Radar Festival in January 2018 at the Public Theatre in New York and uses a more elaborate set up of sliding screens.  In Melbourne the screens are replaced with sheets that immediately grab our attention for the origins of shadow play theatre, and how they are used for privacy in hospitals.

"Re-Member Me" received a most enthusiastic ovation.  The audience were bolted to their seats as they were mesmerised by Dickie Beau's performance and could not stand to show their appreciation.  I did not want to destroy my appreciation by standing.  The cheers, hollers and clapping said it all - thank you for a wonderful performance and taking us on an incredible journey.

"Re-Member Me" obtained a 9/10 from both my partner and I.