"Heart Is A Wasteland". Malthouse Theatre, Beckett Theatre, Wednesday July 12th 2017
"Heart Is A Wasteland" played at the Cooper's Malthouse Theatre, Beckett Theatre on Wednesday July 12th 2017For 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.
"Heart Is A Wasteland" by John Harvey and directed by his sister Margaret Harvey is a small gem that is waiting to shine. The script and story laboured some points and glossed over other scenes where I wanted to see interactions that were referenced and unseen. These extra scenes could develop the characters and story for a film.
The show started at about 8.05 pm which is a reasonable time to allow for those running late.
The show started at about 8.05 pm which is a reasonable time to allow for those running late.
This show should be filmed as it would make a great road movie with music. In some ways it reminded me of the 1976 Australian road movie adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" filmed as "Oz".
"Heart Is A Wasteland" has too many leaps and jumps and bumps in the story telling and it needs a lot of work to make the journey less jolting from scene to scene. A film version would create the necessary segues between each major jolt in the script.
The characters were well played by two fine actors.
Singing wise Ursula Yovich as Raye did a fine job with a pleasing and melodious voice. Acting wise Ursula Yovich created a believable character as she allowed us into her soul. Her final song was poignant and heartfelt.
Aaron Pedersen as Dan created a lovable larrikin who showed empathy and care for Raye. Aaron Pederson is such an engaging and charismatic actor.
These two fine actors created realistic tensions during their journey.
Musical Direction and Sound Design by Anna Liebzeit was clean, though she was distracting in the way she followed the action and reacted during the show as it drew focus away from the actors.
Production Design by Alison Ross created a variety of raised stages that reminded me of the Great Australian Bite with a small stage on stage left that looked like Tasmania. This small "Tasmanian" stage provided an opportunity to distance itself from the main stage. Dan mainly used this area to observe the action or as an audience member. I look forward to seeing more of Alison Ross's designs in the future.
Above downstage right a steel beam hung, partially covered with the remaining section revealing the exposed steel beams. The covered section acted as a screen for the projected names of each scene's location that provided a sense of time and space. The tagging of each scene gave the show a road-trip-movie clarity, and alerted me to how visually we had to imagine the landscape, weather and light.
The opening had the two actors upstage right in their dressing room, so upon entry to the theatre I considered the show had begun as I was watching their preparations. Upon entry there was a welcoming audio visual display and their dressing room roller door lowered to separate the action. This opening created a powerful visual with the video flying from Footscray, over the Westgate Bridge, through the doors of the Cooper's Malthouse Theatre, and into the Beckett Theatre. You could feel the spirits of the past welcome us to this venue and this story.
A movie version would open the world to Lydia Fairhall's music and act as a travelogue with a reasonable story.
Overall I gave "Heart Is A Wasteland" a 6/10.
"Heart Is A Wasteland" has too many leaps and jumps and bumps in the story telling and it needs a lot of work to make the journey less jolting from scene to scene. A film version would create the necessary segues between each major jolt in the script.
The characters were well played by two fine actors.
Singing wise Ursula Yovich as Raye did a fine job with a pleasing and melodious voice. Acting wise Ursula Yovich created a believable character as she allowed us into her soul. Her final song was poignant and heartfelt.
Aaron Pedersen as Dan created a lovable larrikin who showed empathy and care for Raye. Aaron Pederson is such an engaging and charismatic actor.
These two fine actors created realistic tensions during their journey.
Musical Direction and Sound Design by Anna Liebzeit was clean, though she was distracting in the way she followed the action and reacted during the show as it drew focus away from the actors.
Production Design by Alison Ross created a variety of raised stages that reminded me of the Great Australian Bite with a small stage on stage left that looked like Tasmania. This small "Tasmanian" stage provided an opportunity to distance itself from the main stage. Dan mainly used this area to observe the action or as an audience member. I look forward to seeing more of Alison Ross's designs in the future.
Above downstage right a steel beam hung, partially covered with the remaining section revealing the exposed steel beams. The covered section acted as a screen for the projected names of each scene's location that provided a sense of time and space. The tagging of each scene gave the show a road-trip-movie clarity, and alerted me to how visually we had to imagine the landscape, weather and light.
The opening had the two actors upstage right in their dressing room, so upon entry to the theatre I considered the show had begun as I was watching their preparations. Upon entry there was a welcoming audio visual display and their dressing room roller door lowered to separate the action. This opening created a powerful visual with the video flying from Footscray, over the Westgate Bridge, through the doors of the Cooper's Malthouse Theatre, and into the Beckett Theatre. You could feel the spirits of the past welcome us to this venue and this story.
A movie version would open the world to Lydia Fairhall's music and act as a travelogue with a reasonable story.
Overall I gave "Heart Is A Wasteland" a 6/10.
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