A story of growing up, meeting God and then growing up some more, this comedic presentation is all the stronger for its disquieting ring of truth.
Derek introduces himself, prepares some rice and dhal, plays the flute, and tells us the story of how he came to grow up in a family of Sai Baba devotees. Inspired to travel to Puttaparthi, he misses the chance to teleport and instead buys himself a plane ticket to India to meet God – Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Through the perspectives of several devotees, we experience Derek’s time in the ashram and travel with him back to the here and now to discover how his life has changed since his pilgrimage.
Pier Carthew played Derek with a simple directness that kept the laughs flowing, reactions to the absurdity of the portrayed situations and sudden tangents taking everyone by surprise. His disarmingly laconic narrative tone, combined with an extraordinary story illustrated by family photographs and occasional slips into chanting and song, was a powerful combination. His ability to portray a wide range of characters further lifted the performance and added more layers to the story, filling in the background of the Sai Baba movement and organisation without lecturing.
The sparse and basic set, a necessity with the frenetic turnover of the Blue Room’s Summer Nights program, suited the confessional presentation. The rice cooker and crockpot with simmering dhal (shared with some of the audience, in a scene from the ashram cafeteria) was a winner, as was the other major piece of set dressing: a cardboard box containing the most randomly relevant props and costumes.
The technical side of matters – projections and soundscapes – tied in neatly with the monologue, with changing scenes and photographs, maps and lists of rules appearing promptly on a screen as mentioned. While there were some issues with computer image projections towards the end of the show, the audience had been laughing for so hard and for so long that it was barely noticed.
A room full of people shaking with laughter – albeit with albeit with a frisson of ‘how much of this is true? And doesn’t that make it tragic?’ – is always a good sign. Carthew and Gunn’s story of a changed life has made the Fringe a better place.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Miracle Man
Presented by The Blue Room Theatre and Sans Hotel
Director: Nicola Gunn
Devised by Pier Carthew and Nicola Gunn
Performed by Pier Carthew
The Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre
12 – 16 February
Fringe World 2013
www.fringeworld.com.au
25 January – 24 February
