Colin Friels. Photo by Jeff Busby
MTC presents Skylight
by David Hare
18 June – 23 July
Southbank Theatre,The Sumner
Two hours and 20 minutes including a 20-minute interval
Theatre review by Brett Champion
When David Hare burst onto the British theatre scene with the infamous Slag! in 1970, he rocketed almost overnight into the ranks of anarcho-political playwrights and authors such as Dario Fo and Harold Pinter, using contemporary theatre to challenge the social status quo, and explore radical notions of feminism and socialism through the prism of intense inter-personal relationships.
First performed in the West End in 1995, in the wake of Thatcher-Era-Britain, Skylight is the story of a relationship between Kyra Hollis, played by Anna Samson, and Tom Sergeant, played by Colin Friels, that is reignited as abruptly as it had been severed, three years prior. Through fraught, tense conversations and diatribes on religion, politics, love, and gardening, Kyra and Tom’s history is slowly revealed.
Writing and direction aside, the essence of any play, the real heart and soul must undoubtedly be the casts performances. All the snappy dialogue or lavish set design in the world won’t matter one jot, if the cast of a show don’t deliver a good performance. Fortunately, Anna Samson, Colin Friels and Toby Wallace (Edward Sergeant) deliver an excellent performance. The interaction between characters, clumsy tenderness and infantile jibes, underscored by a creeping ennui, is what gives this production it’s strength. And strength really is the word. When Samson and Friels rage and roar at each other, there is a certain stormy chemistry, and yet in the moments of quiet, fragile intimacy, there is a strength there too. A cast is what enlivens a script, and the cast of Skylight bring Hare’s irascible and irrepressible work to life with dash and aplomb.
Bitingly funny and achingly sad, MTC’s production of David Hare’s Skylight is a triumph, with it’s combination of intelligent writing, confident direction, striking visuals, and assured performances, this play represents all that is good in contemporary theatre, in an engaging and entertaining performance.
MTC’s production of David Hare’s Skylight will run from June 18 to 23 July 2016 at the Southbank Theatre.
MTC Box Office 03 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au
Arts Centre Melbourne 1300 182 183 or artscentremelbourne.com.au.
