Venue: Ensemble Theatre (Kirribilli NSW), Jan 25 – Mar 2, 2024
Playwright: John Breen
Director: Janine Watson
Cast: Tristan Black, Ray Chong Nee, Briallen Clarke, Skyler Ellis, Alex King, Anthony Taufa
Images by Prudence Upton
Theatre review
The impossible happened in 1978 when Irish provincial side the Munsters, met the almighty All Blacks. For many, it was an unforgettable event, not only in terms of the on-field activity, but also the innumerable surrounding stories, of ordinary people forever changed by the momentous occurrence. The nostalgia of John Breen’s 1999 play Alone it Stands has only become more poignant with time for fans of sport, who are certain to remain connected with the resonances of this uplifting piece.
Direction by Janine Watson not only imbues Alone it Stands with appropriate emotional and comical dimensions, her work is memorable for its impressive physical and spatial aspects. A show about rugby calls for a considerable amount of kinetic animation, which Watson duly incorporates with flair and aplomb. The immensely likeable ensemble of six brings great charm and humour, to the 62 roles they ardently perform, on a stage relentless with its delightful effervescence.
Designer Emma White’s set and costumes offer simple but unequivocally effective solutions to the demands of a text that requires us to imagine a great number of personalities and locations. Lights by Matt Cox deftly calibrates for us, the many degrees of varying tension, as we traverse the highs and lows of an historic moment. Jessica Dunn’s music and sounds bring the drama, along with amusement, to something that is evidently more that “just a game”.
Myth making is integral to the formation of our collective identities. Theatre is a form of storytelling that involves a process of congregation that ultimately leads to consensus. It is a perpetual exercise in democracy perhaps, in a world that we now understand to be constantly in flux, but that never stops needing to define itself. What we wish to become, will forever be tied to how we remember origins; how we select, manufacture, prioritise and emphasise old narratives, is a reflection of who we are and a decisive factor of who we can be.
Suzy Goes See 