Above and featured : Writer and performer Mel Ree. Photo credit DefinitelyDefne Photography, @definitelydefne101
Griffin Theatre is currently presenting a new play from a gifted emerging voice at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross. A local performance art veteran shares tips of how to work through life’s challenges and loves.
How long do we take to grow into our genuine healing?
Can it be measured in time, or is it calibrated by a series of survivals of flashbacks, decades of different reactions, or successive exhaustions post reactions?
From this gorgeous, entertaining and endearing romp I came away with the feeling that healing sees us able to laugh, cry and ponder the past in our now in close succession. And that identity is complex and chameleon-like for the would-be confident confidante.
Photo credit DefinitelyDefne Photography, @definitelydefne101
Such contrasting compartments can be challenging, expressive, angry, provocative, cheeky, heartbreaking and entertaining when carefully exposed with carefree honesty. They are perfect for the intense showcase of intimate theatre.
Mel Ree’s introspective criticism of her journey, her banter with the audience and her fast-paced raw storytelling has the strength of a woman with many moods and faces of grief, identity searching and hope for a less needy emotional future.
This vivacious and madcap vignette is beautifully lit, uses interesting props, is gorgeously and uniquely costumed. There is finely tuned audio enhancement and lush, but at time ambitiously busy costume changes and effective switches from memory replay to direct super-endearing comments to us as the performance unfolds.
Ree’s candid delivery in this way and the switch from raw monologue to performance art state then back to banter or deep emotional descent into memories make this autobiographical show a showstopper.
Photo credit DefinitelyDefne Photography, @definitelydefne101
Forget social media littered with imagery, shares, comments and reposts. This is a true feed for anyone attempting to feed on our time and make sense of past hurt or confusion.
The writing, especially the poetry in the performance scene shares is exquisitely chiselled. The contrast to less elevated chat before and after is so nice.
The whole event has an ultra-modern, post-pandemic no-nonsense tessitura which delights and encourages self esteem preservation. It is drenched in strength as the character makes a tribute to her mother’s strength and survival through relationships, affection, abuse and lust. She reflects on this in jarringly effective jumps in time.
The litany of clever metaphor, description and one-liners or anger-tined aphorisms made my night. The asides as a performer about performing memoirs alongside developing as a person are priceless.
Photo credit DefinitelyDefne Photography, @definitelydefne101
Mel Ree’s vivacious sharing wears her bulging soul on on a sturdy sleeve as she sheds inhibition and political correctness of a less bold static time in favour of an artistic and honest expression.
Big feelings, and the vulnerability of human feelings are discussed and indicated in this piece’s constantly shifting voice and dizzying juxtaposition of energy levels. She dives into the confusions of family, growing up, need, sex, needing sex, trauma, identity, dreaming, culture and being a victim.
At times I was craving even more relaxed space around moments to enable the audience to sink into the gravitas or commonsense of some scenes before moving on. The run until October 8th should sort this pacing out nicely.
This is a worthwhile, edgy ballad to be exposed to at this time. The craft and artistry of its construction and the energy its performance is well worth a place in the current Griffin ‘Lookout’ program. It moves us instantly, in many different ways and its substantial ingredient list, well blended makes a recipe for success. See it and dance with it.