by
Yasmina Reza
at Fairfax Studio
until November 4, 2000
Reviewer: Kate
Herbert
When a skilful
playwright meets a director and two actors of matching talent, it is a recipe
for success.
The Unexpected Man combines French playwright, Yasmina
Reza, Melbourne director, Simon Phillips and Sydney actors, Kerry Walker and
John Gaden.Voila! Vive la recipe!
Reza's basic premise of a man and a woman sitting on a
train together without communicating could make a frustrating and static play.
But Reza creates their inner life by writing in a series of internal monologues
as the pair travel by train together from Paris to Frankfurt.
Phillips production is innovative. The entire 75 minutes
are set on a beautiful, square revolving stage designed by Michael
Scott-Mitchell. Each actor, seated on a wooden chair, also revolves
independently. This creates a dynamic physicality in a word-based play.
The journey is further evoked by the thud and rattle of
Ian McDonald's atmospheric score, by the gravel railroad surrounding the
revolve and Nick Schlieper's continual stream of passing railroad lights.
Reza makes this seemingly banal situation fascinating.
Paul Parsky is a famous novelist. His fellow traveller, a middle-aged,
middle-class woman, is one of his devoted readers. She is coincidentally
carrying his latest book, The Unexpected Man, as reading material.
The drama arises not from their interaction or conflict,
but from the tension as we wait for them to speak. She is too embarrassed, shy
or polite to accost him with fandom. She will not even take out his book in
case it causes awkwardness.
He is initially self-absorbed then later compelled to
find out about this cool and attractive woman.
Gaden is compelling as the ageing and bitter writer. he
captures his profound sense of regret and cynicism about his life, work and the
world at large.
Walker is composed, amused and surprising as she shifts
between being dignified and almost child-like and adoring.
Reza's writing is based in a stream of consciousness
narrative style but her dialogue is laconic, poetic and witty. It echoes the
bristling dialogue of her most successful play, Art. Both characters wander
around in their minds, revelling in their pasts, lost friends, antagonisms,
obsessions and loves.
Finally the suspense is relieved. They speak. She reveals
her ardent admiration and fantasy about him. He laughs. End.
By Kate Herbert
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