She’s Not Performing

Tasmanian Theatre Company

Backspace Theatre , Hobart

Written by Alison Mann

Directed by Belinda Bradley

Gai Anderson

Based on research done in the lead up to the National Apology for Forced Adoptions She’s not Performing follows the story of Margarite, one ordinary woman, who 25 years on, is still unable to reconcile her experience of forced adoption. Onstage we watch the consequences of this as her life and sanity unravel before us.

Starting slowly with vignettes alternating from dream sequences to reality, this very tightly written story gives nothing away. Gradually revealing the inner torment of this otherwise seemingly very ordinary women, tension builds palpably as the dark desperation of her hidden trauma begins to seep out, and we wonder how it will all end as her behaviour spirals out of control.

This may sound all too heavy, but its not, as this woman is very real, and the slow revelation of her twisted psycho - sexuality are revelatory rather than clichéd. It certainly gave me some food for thought, whilst for the  most part keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Directed by Belinda Bradley, the pacing is exquisite. The surreal scenes of the protagonist’s inner world in particular are very cleverly realised, with support of striking atmospheric sound and lighting designs of Matt Warren and Jason James. With strong performances from all the caste, in the challenging role as Margarite, Sara Pensalfino managed to walk the fine line between her characters traumatic disconnection from life and her sometimes necessary seeming lack of energy on stage in a very perceptive performance.

I had to push past the crowds that were pouring in the front door of the Theatre Royal for its latest panto-spectacular, to get to the BackSpace on Friday Night. So it was somewhat of a shock to be amongst less than 20 audience members for this riveting show. I could not help but wonder at the future and importance of such locally created theatre reflecting our own stories back to us. Not that I have anything against pantomimes  but it was a stark contrast, and She’s Not Performing is an impressive and powerful show.

She's Not Performing

By Anica Boulanger-Mashberg

Alison Mann’s first full-length play, She’s Not Performing, weaves a handful of lives around its central issue: the long-term impacts and aftermaths of forced adoption. The play broils with the anger and loss which is a daily part of life for Margarite (Sara Pensalfini), decades after giving up her daughter for adoption. Her unresolved pain ricochets and reverberates violently into her relationships with both her current boyfriend Ian (Campbell McKenzie), and also Hamish (Joe Clements), a connection from her past. Bryony Geeves completes the quartet as Annie, a young stripper Margarite becomes preoccupied with (thinking perhaps Annie could be her daughter).

Image courtesy Theatre Royal website

Director Belinda Bradley has handled some of the most sensitive scenes gently, allowing the story to bleed from its characters at just the right pace, and integrating a sometimes addictively claustrophobic and suitably nightmarish soundscape by Matt Warren. In other places, however, the actors don’t yet seem to feel comfortable in their roles, and a certain hesitance and lack of connection to the text occasionally forms a barrier to audience empathy. The minimalist design and moody yet unpretentious lighting serve effectively as each of the different settings, but also leave the actors quite naked (sometimes literally) in the moments where they are not yet at ease.

The production is at its strongest during the scenes that depart from reality in one way or other: in dreams, memories, flashbacks, fantasies. During these sections the cast seem more willing to take risks, the dialogue – perhaps ironically – sounds more real, and all the production elements come together powerfully.

The season should bring more cohesion to the relationships and allow the actors to fully embody their roles, as well as develop the moments of humour in the script which cautiously poked their way through the fury in this opening-night performance.

She’s Not Performing is presented by Tasmanian Theatre Company and will continue at the Theatre Royal Backspace until November 29, 2013.