Bronwyn Fullerton

MILKMILKLEMONADE

Pete Nettell and Mark Dessaix. Pic Bob Seary

11-year-old Emory loves to practise ribbon dancing on his nanna’s chicken farm and dreams only of a life in musical theatre, as a vegan. He desperately wants to save his best friend, Linda, the sad chicken who dabbles in stand-up comedy, from her evil fate – the monstrous chicken-plucking oven.

His 12-year-old playmate, pyromaniac Elliot, plays ‘house’ with him – an outlet for some wonderfully imaginative scenes involving sexual role play through song and dance.

Director of MILKMILKLEMONADE, Melita Rowston, says, “The writing allows so much space for me to inject leaps of imagination into my production”. This embodies the success of the show. Its simplicity allows for the delightfully entertaining high camp action and exploits of a young gay man living in a Southern American bible belt.

New York writer, Joshua Conkel describes his play as, “dark, kitschy, political, unpretentious and stripped down so it’s almost Dadaist”. Strong direction and acting also bring great humour to his script.

The ensemble cast have all brought this play alive with invigorating and contagious performances;

Mark Dessaix as Emory combines endearing innocence, superb balletic movement and wonderful singing to his character.

Pete Nettell is brilliant as Nanna, complete with bizarre orange coiffure, portable oxygen machine and cigarettes. Nanna is hilarious, tough and funny, unaccepting of her grandson’s escapism.

Kieran Foster is a great Elliot, a kinky and very sexually confused young boy who does not aspire to the ambitions of Emory, preferring to help Nanna kill the chickens.

Linda The Chicken is colourfully played by Sarah Easterman, who moves with skill between her comedy routines and the sad acceptance of her fate.

Leah Donovan is a talented actress, who plays Lady in a Leotard. She moves with great ease on stage to combine several roles, including MC to the audience, as well as nasty, husband-eating spiderwoman. She fills gaps in the play with versatility and volatile accents.

Antoinette Barbouttis’s colourful set, complete with life-size chickens and circular garden, is perfect for this quirky comedy and the entire creative team including the choreographers have made this production a fabulous and lively piece of theatre.

MILKMILKLEMONADE plays at the New Theatre, Newtown until Saturday March 2nd.

© Bronwyn Fullerton

24th February, 2013

Tags: Sydney Stage Reviews- MILKMILKLEMONADE, Joshua Conkel, Melita Rowston, Mark Dessaix, Pete Nettell, Kieran Foster, Sarah Easterman, Leah Donovan, Antoinette Barbouttis, Bob Seary, Sydney Arts Guide, Bronwyn Fullerton

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.