Fresh and satisfying
Bats Theatre,
Reviewed by Craig Beardsworth
THIS one woman one act one hour play is a prime example of what theatre is meant to do. That is, take the audience on a journey.
This might seem like a pretty basic prerequisite, but often enough a writer can lose pace or an actor may not be able to keep you on side thus disrupting the illusion. Yvette Parsons as writer and actor is in no danger of losing her audience. We laughed, cried, cringed and applauded throughout.
Silent Night premiered a year ago in Auckland and has played several venues since. This time has clearly helped Parsons hone a tightly constructed character piece. We get to meet Irene McMunn on Christmas Day – elderly, widowed, neglected by her daughter and clinging to her faith (and the parish priest).
Irene wears orthotic sandals, watermelon pink, specs on a neck chain and a rosary with a cross hanging disturbingly at crotch level. While she waits for her guests to arrive we get to sample the life of a lonely but perennially happy pensioner. The beauty of the writing is that each laugh is double edged. Christmas cards hung on a string above the couch during an hilarious geriatric balancing act turn out to be several years old. We laugh but know that it’s a possible scenario in some lonely households.
Irene’s war traumatised husband, loveless marriage and loss of a brother to the Tangiwai disaster give ample opportunity for very moving acting.
Silent Night is fresh, satisfying and yet another reason why Bats is so important to Wellington.









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