This explosive play – the latest work by the wonderful Joanna Murray-Smith (Ninety, Honour, Bombshells) – questions the very fabric of our society as well as our entrenched beliefs. What is ‘good’?’What is ‘evil’? Are one generation’s hidden emotions – hurt, rage and anger – revealed, and in fact echoed, in the next?
Fury is an intense drama that examines a superficially ‘perfect’ upper middle class family whose liberal foundations are shaken to the core by unexpected revelations. Alice is a top neuroscientist about to be awarded a very important humanitarian prize. Her husband, Patrick, is a famous writer with several bestselling books to his credit. Both are caring, compassionate people left stunned and bewildered when their teenage son Joe, who is doing his HSC and having a difficult time at school, graffiti’s a local mosque.
Being parents they blame themselves; numerous discussions about parenting, children’s safety, and our changing society result as the pair play the guilt game. Religious beliefs, morality, and the difference between protest and terrorism are explored. The ‘generation gap’ issue arises, as does the lack of communication between families. Murray-Smith also examines the way we deal with our instinctive desire to shape our children and their refusal to comply.
As Alice, Sarah Peirse is absolutely magnificent; she gives an intense, passionate performance. When her shocking secret is revealed, it causes Patrick to question everything he knows (or thinks he knows) about her.
The (generally) quieter, hunched, intense Patrick was grippingly played by Robert Menzies. The character, who appears to be Murray–Smith’s sounding board for discussions about art, politics and society, has some difficult, convoluted but incendiary speeches (almost rants) which Menzies handles well. A superb performance.
Fresh faced, rebellious Joe, full of teenage angst and the catalyst of the crisis, was excellently played by Harry Greenwood.
While Alice and Patrick represent the world of education and privilege, Anne (Claire Jones) and Bob (Yure Covich), the parents of Trevor, one of Joe’s school friends, are far more ‘ordinary’. Or are they?
Rebecca, the young journalist who is preparing an article on Alice, and who turns out to have unexpected links to the family, is terrifically played by Geraldine Hakewill.
Murray-Smith’s writing is tremendous and biting (the audience roaring with laughter at certain points thanks to Murray Smith’s caustic wit) and features an impressive use of rhythm, repetition and overlap. The stage is sparse, featuring two large, looming walls and a couple of chairs, allowing for fluid scene changes. Of particular note is the specially-made terrazzo floor. The lighting by Schlieper and Twyman is excellent.
Under the tremendous direction of Andrew Upton, and featuring magnificent performances, this searing production explodes our complacency.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Sydney Theatre Company presents
Fury
By Joanna Murray-Smith
Director: Andrew Upton
Designer: David Fleischer
Lighting design: Nick Schlieper Chris Twyman
Composer and sound designer: Max Lyandvert
Assistant director: Imara Savage
Cast: Yure Covich, Harry Greenwood, Geraldine Hakewill, Claire Jones, Robert Menzies, Sarah Peirse, Tahki Saul
Running time: 1 hr 45 mins (no interval)
Wharf 1, Sydney
15 April – 8 June
