Toy Symphony

Arriving at the Cremorne Theatre complex early, in order to purloin the perfect parking place, it was pointed out to me by my young companion that the show started at 6.30pm! Not early at all. Eeekkk.

The Performing Arts car park was full…. double eeekkk (which would make it eekk eeekkk). This would normally be very annoying, but instead I was particularly thrilled as it meant that the QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Centre) and the pursuit of live entertainment (kulcha!) were alive and doing well in Brisbane, thank you very much. Buzzing and thriving, the Centre was packed, and Tuesday night, too, I might hasten to add.

Seated comfortably; lights up; check out the set design and straight into dramatic action. Writer meets psychiatrist and the flood gates are open………..

Playwright, Roland Henning (Chris Pitman), stands furtively by the ‘door’ explaining to the psychiatrist (Lizzy Falkland) why he shouldn’t be there; wouldn’t be there, albeit for a concerned friend – and no, he doesn’t have writer’s, oh, can’t say the word, you know, what is it when you can’t get that word out? Well, that’s what he’s explaining he doesn’t have. This leads the actors, and the audience alike, into the world of imagination: What it is like to be bereft of it; how does one acquire it; what happens when it is lost; how does one get it back; what if it never comes back?

Basically, a rollercoaster of mental imagery, amazingly wordy monologues that would stagger the linguists among us, and so many pop-up characters (and surprises) that keep the audience on the edge of their seats right the way through the play.

Who cannot relate to at least half of these characters? Comedy begets tragedy and tragedy has its own comic relief – the pathos and humour for the hungry heart and soul.

Many of the moments within this play are so thought-provoking, you could hear the “ahh’s” and “ooh’s” from the front of the theatre to the very back……….

As our “hero” is thrown back into painful childhood memories (this is a seamless introduction to the order of the play) we are carried through Roland’s past, present and hopefully, his future. Back to school and moments we can all relate to, with history and geography all having rightful and meaningful place in the setting of the scenes.

The school teacher (Barbara Lowing) is impeccable; her outfit adorable; her persona a composite of all the admirable qualities that ever shone through an inspirational teacher. The principal (Ed Wightman) has the opposite effect – what wonderful characters!

Actually, all the characters are fabulous – and the set design, seemingly dull and lifeless to begin with, offers so many surprises that you cling to the edge of your seat, waiting for something else to happen! Simplicity of set design always an integral part of any quality performance. Take a bow, Jonathan Oxlade.

The character of Nick (Daniel Mulvihill) is wonderfully outrageous (my young companion “cracked up” with every quirky expletive) with a personal favourite line being “You total pervert, FANTASTIC”. Fantastic it was. Add to this a Latvian accent and we were away.

Roland Henning’s journey has imagery flooding through every orifice, peppered with humour; small truths we all try to avoid; reality checks that sometimes need checking and the overall knowledge that minorities, with a few caring hands and helpful insights, can wallow in imagination and with hope, we can all flourish. Being different, although at times sorrowful (“not depressed, sad”), can be its own inspirational reward. Well done to the director (Geordie Brookman) bringing all of this together in a cohesive, intriguing and heartfelt performance. Well done to the actors who bring the entire play to life.

Toy Symphony – what a production to end the Queensland Theatre Company’s 2009 season!

Toy Symphony by Michael Gow (Artistic Director, Queensland Theatre Company)
Cremorne Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Southbank, Brisbane.
9th November – 12th December 2009