by Kylie Eastley
As We
Forgive is a play written
by award winning playwright Tom Holloway specifically for Hobart
based actor, Robert Jarman. Last night was the opening and Jarman
played to a packed house including the usual VIP's who showed their
appreciation with a hearty encore.
As We
Forgive consists of 3
monologues; each a narrative that discusses three important elements
to the human psyche. The first is vengeance. Jarman appears on stage
as an elderly man dressed in a tweed jacket with cane in hand. He
slumps into an old arm chair and welcomes the audience, thanking them
for coming out on this 'auspicious evening'.
He tells
the story of a man living an ordinary life within a very small world;
his home, the local shop, a nearby park. The story unfolds and we
hear how this world is shattered by the actions of another and the
impact this has on him. Rather than hide away in fear he instead opts
for vengeance as a way forward.
The
second character speaks of a 'good man' that he meets and the
relationship he thinks he sees between this man and his son. As the
story unfolds our stomache churns as it takes a direction that
sickens us. As the layers are stripped away we understand that Jarman
is this young boy who has survived such trauma and who intentionally
takes the path of hatred rather than forgiveness.
The
third monologue is someone different again. A man appears on stage
wearing sandshoes, jeans and zip up jacket. He appears neglected,
damaged, empty. I have walked past men and women like this so many
times. It's difficult to grasp this man's history, but Jarman
performs the character brilliantly. A man who made a mistake and
knows he is not really forgiven, even though the words have been
uttered.
All
these stories are so familiar. We relate to the characters, the
stories, the sentiment. But this doesn't make it pedestrian, quite
the opposite, we invest in the narratives, we go on the ride in this
exploration of alternative moral decision making. To be vengeful
instead of accepting, to hate instead of forgive and to question
forgiveness as a genuine and honest response to tragedy.
I love a
production where it all works and this is a good example of such a
production. Robert Jarman completely takes on these three characters
and I am lost in his words; he is the old man, the traumatized boy
and the bleeding man. He has worked hard to become these characters.
His performance is humorous, strong but subtle; there is no heavy
handed characterisation, but the creation of real people on stage
telling us these ordinary but extraordinary stories.
Direction
by Julian Meyrick is fantastic. He balances the subtleties between
script, actor, lighting, music and visual image just right. With all
combining to engage and hold the audience.
The
writing is beautiful and truly reflective of the dialogue we have
with ourselves; unfinished sentences, questioning, repetition...it is
like Holloway has been eaves dropping on the internal chatter of 3
damaged souls. His exploration into our moral dilemma is an
interesting subject, especially in an age where self help books about
forgiveness and inner peace are thriving.
'We
are so much less than we could be'.
Holloway's
script and Jarman's performance are perfectly accompanied by the
atmospheric lighting by Nicholas Higgins and Gareth Kays and
projections of domestic and ordinary spaces and buildings; all with
an archival feel to them. These photographs, by well known Tasmanian
photographer Lisa Garland, are beautifully emotive with deep reds and
oranges; they give an impression of the past, history, memory.
Antony
Morgan is the cellist who provides the music between the 3 works
which is moody and evocative. The score, composed by Raffaele
Marcellino, beautifully marries with the lighting, the projected
images and the mood created through Holloway's script.
One of
my favourite things about As
We Forgive is that Robert
Jarman surprised me with his performance. His morphing face and voice
were unfamiliar - this man was someone I didn't know and surely this
must be a huge accomplishment for an actor who is so well known
within his home town.
As We
Forgive demonstrates
the joy that can come from combining
highly skilled artists from both within and outside of the state. It
was a pleasure to experience and I hope we see more of such
collaborative productions.
As We
Forgive is produced by Annette Downs Tasmania Performs and tours Tasmania as part of
Ten Days on the Island 2013. It is
performed at the Backspace Theatre, Hobart from 9-16. March.
