Archive for May, 2010
The 7 Stages of Grieving @ Space Theatre
May 22nd
As the title suggests, this is a story about loss. It begins with relative familiar territory, the loss of a grandparent, and slowly develops into portraying Aboriginal cultural loss and reconciliation, less familiar territory. The most positive thing about this play is that it doesn’t point any fingers, or make the audience feel under attack. Rather it aims to send a message and educate us so that we can attempt to understand.
The play is performed entirely by Lisa Flanagan, who does a stellar job. I felt an instant liking towards her walking to my seat as she sat on the edge of the stage smiling warmly as the theatre slowly filled. An introduction to the show by her Aunt made us feel surrounded by family, as if we were guests sitting around her kitchen table, privileged to be hearing such personal tales.
A minimalist stage and few props ensured that focus was not taken away from the dialogue. Projected images on a black cloth screen showed black and white photographs of the deceased, mirrored by family photos kept safely away in a briefcase. Soft, orange sand was used to great effect. Photographs were projected on the sand as it fell from the hands of Lisa, creating a rippling effect of the image. A simple yet visually striking effect.
Written by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman, two of Australia’s leading Indigenous theatre artists, this show promises an evening of good story telling told first hand.
Kryztoff Rating: 4K
Nightmare on Elm Street
May 18th
Freddy Krueger is back in a remake of the hugely successful Nightmare on Elm Street that first hit screens in 1984. All the clichés of a horror flick are still here where we see each of the main characters slowly knocked off. In fact the entire premise of the film appears to be waiting for and finally witnessing each character’s untimely yet predictable death as it becomes near impossible to stay awake continuously. For a select unfortunate bunch of teens, Freddy targets them in their sleep so when they finally drift off into oblivion, their dreams become a nightmare as Freddy uses those infamous garden shear fingers to slice and dice each victim.
The film doesn’t break any barriers, or attempt to try anything different. It is your standard slasher film where one has the occasional desire to have a bit of a laugh when the plot gets a little ridiculous. In fact the remake is pretty much identical to the original including the dark secret the parents are keeping from their children with the exception that Freddy has gone from being a child murderer to a child molester, which is disturbing and just seems a bit misplaced in the general tone of the film.
The original was successful because it made such a significant impact on the horror genre but this film makes no such impact. Though it’s entertaining and plays with suspense so your nerves are on edge, you’d think after 26 years we could expect just a little bit more.
Kryztoff Rating 2.5K
RAW – Robin Hood
May 16th
If you are looking for a modern retelling of the traditional Robin Hood, this Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe hype is not it. Indeed, it avoids the whole usual story by placing it before the legend even begins. And far from Robin being the wisecracking friend of the poor in their battles with the rich, Crowe is his usual surly, introspective self who eventually sides with what is meant to his enemy. After that, who cares much what Rusty’s accent sounded like, to me it seemed very authentic Russell Crowe.
Cate Blanchett does well as Maid Marion as does Mark Strong as the evil Godfrey and Max von Sydow stars as Sir Walter Loxley. The battle scenes are fair with the film bookended with the major battles, the former better than the latter which seemed a 12th century homage to Saving Private Ryan. However, the direction based on a string of one second snippets of guys copping it is as boring as it is visually hard to follow.
As for the story, well at least it got marks for content if not twists and turns. However, Robin’s form reversal from peasant to statesman and the amazing time it took to get from Nottingham to Dover as the French crossed the channel only served to undermine the credibility that such a Robin Hood persona no doubt was trying to create.
In the same vein as Sherlock Holmes over Christmas, recreating characters is fine but when it all seems at its end to be for the purpose of creating new sequel possibilities perhaps directors like Scott are selling his audiences short.
Kryztoff Rating – 3K