A question for the producers of ORPHANS and BELLEVILLE, the late show and the premium programme at the Old Fitzroy: why put on a bad English play or a bad American play when there are plenty of good and bad Australian plays to choose from?
In direct contradiction to An American in Paris, BELLEVILLE, Amy Herzog’s play, is about a pair of Ugly Americans, pretentious self-absorbed Ugly Americans, Abby and Zack, and their appalling behaviour to their landlords, Ali and Amina.
BELLEVILLE begins with Abby discovering Zack masturbating. She’s cut her yoga class because nobody came. Funny that, since her French language skills add up to the total sum of nothing.
Zack jacking off comes as a surprise as much as his being home in the first place as is the act of solo stimulation. He is supposed to be at the clinic beavering away at a cure for adolescent AIDS.
Taylor Ferguson took on the role of Abby late as substitute for the original actress and proves herself as a fast study and an ability to subtly incorporate having her book in hand. I saw the third performance and by now, she has probably jettisoned the pages entirely.
Her portrayal of the bereft and bereaved brat who blames herself for marrying on the rebound so that her dying mother could see her wed is the best thing about BELLEVILLE. Her timing as the schity, ditzy, tipsy with daddy issues and a morbid fixation with her sister’s pregnancy turns on a dime.
Second best thing is the performance of Chantelle Jamieson, who plays the landlord’s wife, Amina, with dignified disdain, almost entirely in French, such is her contempt for her rent avoiding, drug abusing, self absorbed and suicidal tenants.
Jonathan Hindmarsh’s set depicting a grubbily chic Paris apartment is serviceable, lit suitably by the ubiquitous Benjamin Brockman.
Directed by Claudia Barrie, BELLEVILLE’s greatest irony is in the title – Belleville is no Wellsville.
BELLEVILLE is playing the Old Fitz, 129 Dowling Street, corner of Cathedral street, Woolloomooloo until Saturday 7th May. Performance times Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 5pm.
www.oldfitztheatre.com/belleville