A theatre company I have never heard of…A play I have never heard of…A venue I have never been to before…This was a wildcard night at the theatre which proved to be very worthwhile.
ORPHANS is a zinger of a play by English playwright Dennis Kelly whose previous credits include Matilda The Musical.
It is a domestic drama. Young couple Danny and Helen live in a ramshackle apartment in a rough neighbourhood. They have a young boy who is being minded by Danny’s mother and Helen is expecting another child.
Helen’s troubled brother Liam comes into the apartment whilst they are eating with his shirt drenched in blood. Liam has got himself into trouble again. Helen and Danny go into damage control, try and discover a holding pattern which threatens to break apart at any time.
Terri Brabon directs this production very tautly making the most of Kelly’s snappy, incisive dialogue. It isn’t far into the play that we are in for one hell of a psychodrama with Kelly’s intense studies of his three characters.
The three actors, each with WAAPA experience, give very impressive performances.
Lachlan Stevenson is the very nervy, disturbed Liam who can’t keep still, forever pacing around the stage, and changing his story at every turn in the play.
James Thomasson plays the down to earth, decent Danny who tries to navigate the stormy waters threaten to drown his marriage.
Brittany Santariga is the passionate Helen, caught between the love for her husband and the love that she has for her brother.
The set, designed by xxx, of the living room of Danny and Helen’s apartment featuring a kitchen table and crumpled sofa, was effective. The venue, Flow Studios, is a small arts based warehouse, suited this tightly knit play.
Kelly’s play probes a lot. Most of all it asks, what are the lengths one will go to protect one’s family? How far can our love be pushed?!
Recommended for lovers of strong drama, Stacks On Theatre Company’s production of Dennis Kelly’s ORPHANS is playing Flow Studios, 57 Denison Street, Camperdown until 27 March 2022. Performances each night at 7pm.
Featured image : James Thomasson and Brittany Santariga in ‘Orphans’ at Flow Studios. Production photography by Chrissy Maguire.