Lynn Belvedere

BULLY BOY @ BLOOD MOON THEATRE KINGS CROSS

Bully Boy Patrick2 BullyBoyShowend

A Night of Play is currently presenting the Australian premiere production of BULLY BOY by playwright Sandi Toksvig. BULLY BOY embodies all the brutal reality and tragedy of a soldier’s life under investigation for committing murder on the battlefield in Afghanistan, by killing an enemy combatant, an eight year old boy carrying a grenade. Jaymie Knight is Major Oscar Hadley, the army investigator. Patrick Cullen is Private Eddie Clark, the frontline soldier, a member of the battlefield team known as THE BULLY BOYS.

Truth is never a part of a wartime murder investigation, and the army investigator is not at anytime interested in serving the truth. History is always re-written by the winners to mirror the required point of view. As expected the army has already decided that Private Eddie Clark is guilty, and has to be the scapegoat. The damage done to all sides is very evident, war is hell, and in modern warfare, all ethical standards disappear.

Director Deborah Mulhall has applied her unique and meticulous vision, to the two characters in crisis. This play required an intimate performance space, and the director achieved that intimacy by converting the whole of the theatre area into a thrust stage, with the audience seated on three sides, on the front of the stage as well stage-left and stage-right.

Private Edward Clark is shattered inside and PTSD is evident, and quickly learn about Eddie’s fragile mental health. He has stayed alive, survived and with no physical injuries, but with complete loss of impulse control. Learning about Major Oscar Hadley’s fragile mental health caused by the Falklands War, causes a meeting of minds and a bond is formed between the officer and the soldier.

The whole truth, should not be buried. Unexpected twists bring the play to a unique conclusion, that makes you consider that warfare is never ever justified. Corporal punishment and capital punishment, simply does not work. When will the seven billion humans decide that permanent peaceful co-existence, is the only way to live? Duration of ninety minutes including ten minute interval.

Sandi Toksvig’s BULLY BOY is playing the Blood Moon Theatre at the World Bar, 24 Bayswater Road, King Cross, until the 26th March. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7.30pm. Age restrictions apply at this venue, and you must be 18+ to attend

Production Photography by Sian Egginton

Website: http://www.anightofplay.com/

Tickets:- http://www.bullyboysydney.eventbrite.com.au/

 

 

 

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -