The Ensemble Theatre recently presented the Australian premiere of an Argentinian play, Javier Daulte’s ‘Are You There?’. This was a more exotic choice than is the usual case with the Ensemble as the Kirribilli based theatre generally chooses plays local, American or British productions.

The Ensemble invited Ros Horin, formerly the long-time Artistic Director of the Stables theatre, to direct the production. The story goes that Ms Horin saw the play in Buenos Aires, fell in love with it, and decided that she just had to direct it. She is quoted as saying, ‘The play spoke to me when I saw it in Spanish and I don’t even know the language! It’s whimsical and tender, funny and sad, and full of delicious physical comedy. Most especially, ‘Are You There?’ celebrates the power and magic of the actor’s art, which lets us see the invisible”.

In ‘Are You There?’ Ana(Paula Arundell) and Francisco(Socratis Otto) appear like any ordinary couple; they are newly married, moving house and unpacking boxes. However with their new house comes new baggage. The happy couple are forced to become a happy trio. Enter the uninvited new flatmate Fred, he’s opinionated, he’s disruptive and most surprisingly of all, he’s invisible! How do the young couple cope with the unexpected intrusion?!

I wish I could say that I also fell in love with ‘Are you There?’ however I would not be being truthful. I didn’t enjoy the play, I found it hard to follow, and irritating. I know that it was meant to be cute and sweet but I give it only a lukewarm rating.

I found Ros Horin’s production and the performances to be sound.

I compare Daulte’s play to say a play turned film like ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’, a script along similar lines,yet ‘Are You There?’ lacked the same depth or poetry.