Tour de force at Circa
Lynn Freeman
August: Osage County, Directed by Susan Wilson, Circa Theatre, Reviewed by Lynn Freeman
Before you get distracted from reading this review - SEE THIS PLAY! Or else! The ‘or else’ being that you will miss out on a tour de force (I’ve always wanted to have a reason to use that phrase). Tracey Letts’ play deserves all the hype and its many overseas awards. It is done full and exquisite justice by Susan Wilson and her supreme cast. This play puts its actors through the emotional wringer, and the audience with them. The opening night standing ovation was fully deserved.
This family based epic happens over just a few weeks but we learn so much about their back story and what drives them, and why they are all so terribly damaged, during the course of the play.
The play is very long and the first and biggest chunk is a test of concentration. But with a huge cast of characters, it is on reflection necessary so we know where they all fit in as they enter the story. The second two shorter acts are electrifying at times, to the point where I found myself not daring to breathe. This is especially so in the scenes where the mother Violet (Jennifer Ludlam in breathtaking form as this wrecked, manipulative woman), is challenged by her eldest daughter Barbara (a jaw-dropping pitch perfect performance by Michele Amas). Tina Regtien makes us worry deeply for her character, the fragile Ivy, with Laura Hill giving a wonderfully sympathetic portrayal of the lonely youngest sister Karen.
As Violet’s sister Mattie Fay, Jane Waddell perfectly balances this character’s humour and bitterness. Anya Tate-Manning has few words as the American Indian housekeeper, Johnna, but is totally compelling as the family implodes. Lauren Gibson captures the desperation of Barbara’s daughter, Jean, who tries to escape from her misery by smoking pot.
When Karen’s sleazy fiancée (Christopher Brougham is genuinely scary as Steve) comes onto Jean, your stomach knots up. When Mattie Fay bullies her socially inept son Little Charles (Jason Whyte), you want to reach out and hug him. Ray Henwood opens the play as the drunken and cynical patriarch, Beverly.
Charles senior and Barbara’s husband Bill (strong performances from Jeffrey Thomas and Jonathon Hendry), and the Sheriff (Richard Chapman), complete this large cast.
Complementing the finely crafted script and engrossing performances are John Hodgkin’s multi-level set, at once beautiful and practical, lit exquisitely by Marcus Lush, with Gareth Farr adding to the menace with his music. Gillie Coxhill’s designs for this large cast were right on the money.
This is a wildly ambitious production for any New Zealand theatre and will be remembered as one of Circa’s best.
Before you get distracted from reading this review - SEE THIS PLAY! Or else! The ‘or else’ being that you will miss out on a tour de force (I’ve always wanted to have a reason to use that phrase). Tracey Letts’ play deserves all the hype and its many overseas awards. It is done full and exquisite justice by Susan Wilson and her supreme cast. This play puts its actors through the emotional wringer, and the audience with them. The opening night standing ovation was fully deserved.
This family based epic happens over just a few weeks but we learn so much about their back story and what drives them, and why they are all so terribly damaged, during the course of the play.
The play is very long and the first and biggest chunk is a test of concentration. But with a huge cast of characters, it is on reflection necessary so we know where they all fit in as they enter the story. The second two shorter acts are electrifying at times, to the point where I found myself not daring to breathe. This is especially so in the scenes where the mother Violet (Jennifer Ludlam in breathtaking form as this wrecked, manipulative woman), is challenged by her eldest daughter Barbara (a jaw-dropping pitch perfect performance by Michele Amas). Tina Regtien makes us worry deeply for her character, the fragile Ivy, with Laura Hill giving a wonderfully sympathetic portrayal of the lonely youngest sister Karen.
As Violet’s sister Mattie Fay, Jane Waddell perfectly balances this character’s humour and bitterness. Anya Tate-Manning has few words as the American Indian housekeeper, Johnna, but is totally compelling as the family implodes. Lauren Gibson captures the desperation of Barbara’s daughter, Jean, who tries to escape from her misery by smoking pot.
When Karen’s sleazy fiancée (Christopher Brougham is genuinely scary as Steve) comes onto Jean, your stomach knots up. When Mattie Fay bullies her socially inept son Little Charles (Jason Whyte), you want to reach out and hug him. Ray Henwood opens the play as the drunken and cynical patriarch, Beverly.
Charles senior and Barbara’s husband Bill (strong performances from Jeffrey Thomas and Jonathon Hendry), and the Sheriff (Richard Chapman), complete this large cast.
Complementing the finely crafted script and engrossing performances are John Hodgkin’s multi-level set, at once beautiful and practical, lit exquisitely by Marcus Lush, with Gareth Farr adding to the menace with his music. Gillie Coxhill’s designs for this large cast were right on the money.
This is a wildly ambitious production for any New Zealand theatre and will be remembered as one of Circa’s best.
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