Marooned, Sept 19, 2019 ***

THEATRE 

Written by Michael Gray Griffith; by The Wolves Theatre Company

At The Lawler, Southbank Theatre until Sept 28, 2019 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert (on Sept 19)

Stars:***
This review also online at Herald Sun Arts (Tues Sept 24) & in print (Fri Sept 27).

Christopher Jay, Greg Caine, Darcy Smith, pic Michael  G Griffith

Michael Gray Griffith’s play, Marooned, has a creeping, disturbing atmosphere, which is not surprising in a play about suicide.

What may be surprising is the quietly increasing sense of hope that the four characters, three men and one woman, feel as they wait, marooned, in an anonymous waiting room after being informed by an inaudible voice that their ‘attempts have failed’.

The existential pain is palpable in each character as they slowly and uncomfortably reveal their suicide stories, helping each other to understand their predicaments, and realising that they want to live. But in order to return to their lives, they must be permitted to leave the waiting room.

Darcy Smith is vulnerable as the sensitive, young, gay man; Christopher Jay is brash and gruff as the tough-guy tradie with tattoos; Rohana Hayes is brittle and reserved as the older professional woman; while Gregory Caine thoughtfully portrays the profoundly disillusioned businessmen whose relationship with his wife and children is irreparably damaged.

Each of the characters’ stories represents a different group in our community, but all reveal how delicate is the human psyche, how fragile is our mental health and how tenuous our grip on this life.

Performances are intense, committed and credible, although the pace of the production is slow and could benefit from tighter cueing and greater variation in rhythm and dynamic range to increase the dramatic tension.

This production needs a trigger warning for audiences who may find this topic distressing, but the play has the support of suicide prevention adviser, Malcolm Guy, who spoke briefly before the play about how best to communicate with a suicidal colleague, friend or family member.

Just one moment of intervention, a kind word, or a listening ear could prevent a tragedy. Marooned may be upsetting for the audience, but our new awareness may help save a life.

by Kate Herbert