Bronwyn Fullerton

The Bull, The Moon And The Coronet Of Stars

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Matt Zeremes and Silvia Colloca. Pic Brett Boardman

The Stables Theatre’s triangular stage with its steeply raked and intimate audience space is the perfect vehicle for Van Badham’s latest play THE BULL, THE MOON AND THE CORONET OF STARS.

The unique style of this play sees the two actors move smoothly between narrative to the audience and dialogue with each other – a method that takes some adjusting to, but ultimately works very well.

Inspired by the mythological Greek characters of Ariadne, Theseus and Dionysis, this is the love story of Marion (Silvia Colloca) and the two men in her life, Michael and Mark (both played by Matt Zeremes). “The Greeks provided the framework for bold engagement with social catastrophe, but also for something as intricate and domestic as how a young woman learns to survive a broken heart”, says Badham.

Set loosely in modern day Australia, Marion – a visual artist – meets the married Michael – a publications officer – in the museum where they work and we are privy to their lustful thoughts through the narrative. Alone together, guarding the museum at night, where the rumour of a mysterious animal spirit lurks, they find themselves in a blackout. (This is the first time I’ve experienced a total blackout in a theatre and it was extremely atmospheric and made this scene triumphant). The animal becomes a symbol of their uncontrollable lust and the sexual tension is dynamic.

Marion is dumped by Michael, loses her boyfriend and is haunted by adultery-remorse and lost love. She cuts her hair off, takes a vow of celibacy and retreats to, not a nunnery, but a resort island where she teaches art to septuagenarian ladies.

Sommelier and disc jockey by night, Mark, sets the resort and the ladies on fire, all but Marion. Some scenes here are somewhat over graphic, especially with Mark’s references to sexual contact with 70 plus women, but it is overall very well written.

The play would not have worked as well without the brilliant performances of Silvia Colloca and Matt Zeremes. They played off each other with precision and warmed the audience with their playful subtext/narrative. Director Lee Lewis must be congratulated for her energetic and finely tuned input. I liked the way we didn’t need to see haircuts and extensive costume changes, focusing the audience on the storyline.

The set design by Anne Tregloan was very effective. It seemed at first odd to see just portable square and rectangular wooden frames on stage, but as they were moved around to adapt to different imaginary settings so gracefully, they became very functional. Likewise the lighting by Verity Hampson and sound by Steve Francis were great.

Van Badham’s play is imaginative and rich with sensuous and poetic language. Her style is bold and fresh.

THE BULL, THE MOON AND THE CORONET OF STARS opened at the SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross on Wednesday 8th May and runs until Saturday 8th June, 2013. The show will then tour to The Butter Factory Theatre in Wodonga, Victoria where it will play between the 13th and 22nd of June, 2013.

(c) Bronwyn Fullerton

12th May, 2013

Published by Bronwyn Fullerton

Bronwyn Fullerton worked as an actress and singer for over 20 years after training with Hayes Gordon at The Ensemble Theatre Studios in Sydney in the 70s. She has worked for The Ensemble Theatre, Stables Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Festival, Theatre-in-Education touring, Rocks Theatre at The Sailor’s Home, Balmain Loft, North Coast Theatre Co., Giniby Theatre Co., Bondi Pavilion Theatre and two years with the Marionette Theatre of Australia, including a tour from Alice Springs to Arnhem Land. As well as Film and Television (Chopper Squad) and Voice Overs, Bronwyn worked for the Gate Theatre Club in London and studied mime in Paris. She now teaches ESL English to foreign students and completed a Post-Grad in Film & Video at UTS in 2009/10.