Reviewed on Thursday May 26, 2022Chapel off Chapel Loft, Prahran
This review may contain spoilers
Working with Theatre People for more than a decade, has allowed me to see a multitude of styles and staging. Over two hundred reviews, I have witnessed everything from large-scale spectaculars to independent black box pieces.
Looking back, some of my more rewarding experiences have been the most streamlined. By that, I mean stripped bare of the bigger bells and whistles, these works relied entirely on solid writing, acting and direction to succeed.
Being aware of high praise for a show preceding any viewing experience, can be a double-edged sword. It is challenging not to be influenced by good criticism, of course. But at the same time, certain expectations have already been established.
Dirt, I am thrilled to say, exceeds all of them.
Created in direct response to recent anti-queer purges taking place in Chechnya, Dirt makes for a gripping and immersive journey. Set in present-day Moscow, the story takes place over a single evening.
With its simple yet ingenious premise, two young men connect over casual conversation. One is an Australian backpacker, and the other is a Russian tour guide. From start to finish, their curious fascination for one another builds and intensifies towards an explosive finale.
At only fifty minutes in length, Dirt packs tremendous punch into its compact running time. Author, Angus Cameron, writes in such a way that addressing the political and social divide between Communist East and Capitalist West never feels lecturing or forced. Composed with succinct clarity, he draws us into Dirt’s dark and dangerous underworld from the outset.
Bronwen Coleman’s stellar direction brings Cameron’s cat and mouse thriller of opposing worlds colliding to fully formed life. Never quite predicting what will happen next, Coleman’s gift for pacing leaves us on the edge of our collective seats.
Patrick Livesey (as the Russian) and Will King (as the Australian) are the two protagonists in question. The duo’s shared collaborative development with Cameron and Coleman, makes for an electrifying boxing match. At times, I forget they were acting, the pair are that good together. Learning that Livesey and King are a couple in real life, adds to their flawless artistic and physical commitment to the project.
Atmospheric creative and technical support is provided by Alice Qin (dramaturgy), MzRizk (sound design), and Matt Ralph (lighting design). Together, they have turned Chapel off Chapel’s Loft into an up close and personal performance piece.
The beauty of watching any live theatre, is seeing action unfold fresh in front of our eyes. Dirt takes this concept and twists it to the next level. Yes, the subject matter may be as uncomfortable as it is important. But, discriminating viewers, and any aspiring actors wanting to learn their craft, will be aptly rewarded. This is fly-on-the-wall drama at its best.
Dirt plays at Chapel off Chapel until Sunday June 5.