This Is Living REVIEW 12 July 2023 ***1/2

THEATRE

Written by Ash Flanders, by Malthouse Theatre

At Merlin Theatre, Malthouse until 30 July 2023

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Stars:***1/2

This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 22 July 2023. KH

(L-R) Wil King, Michelle Perera, Belinda McClory, Maria Theodorakis-image by Pia Johnson

 

You might assume that a person suffering the diagnosis and treatment of a serious illness such as cancer would be appreciative of a loved one’s care and that their carer would remain tolerant, loving, attentive and resilient in the face of such a crisis. Think again!

 

Playwright, Ash Flanders, based his play, This is Living, on his own experience negotiating such a fraught scenario with his own partner. All is not comfort and love in the lives of Will (Wil King) and his partner, Hugh (Marcus McKenzie), who is suffering the ordeal and indignities of treatment for leukaemia. Will is fast losing his patience and appears to have completely lost his humour and slid into despair, while Hugh has become an ungrateful, mean-spirited, black-humoured and altogether beastly patient. Their relationship is excruciating to watch.

 

The play takes place in a luxurious rental property in Hepburn, the spa capital of Victoria, where Hugh has insisted they spend a few days with their older, single, female friends, Jo (Maria Theodorakis), Alex (Belinda McClory) and Sharleen (Michelle Perera) who have a shared history in their youthful exploits in experimental theatre together.

 

Flanders’ crackling dialogue is two parts wit and one part sniping. These five characters are really funny, and they entertain each other as much as they verbally abuse one another. These friendships are based on rivalry, argument, resentment, common history and a wicked sense of humour, all of which Flanders mines relentlessly, and Matthew Lutton directs with rapid-fire pace and a balance of comedy and tragedy.

 

King is sympathetic as the beleaguered Wil, while McKenzie’s Hugh shifts from showman to nasty, impatient control freak. Some of the biggest laughs are care of the three audacious and combative women. Theodorakis is earthy and hilarious as Jo who has a PhD in a topic that sounds totally absurd (wait for it!), McClory is sultry, decorative and provocative as TV travel show host, Alex, while Perera is wild and alarming as the well-heeled divorcee, Sharleen.

 

This is Living is both a hoot and a horror show with entertaining, mouthy and bold characters. Flanders is not only a clever actor but also a cunning playwright.

 

by Kate Herbert

Cast

Maria Theodorakis -Jo

Belinda McClory -Alex

Michelle Perera - Sharleen

Wil King – Will

Marcus McKenzie – Hugh

 

Creative Team

Director - Matthew Lutton

Set & Costume Designer – Matilda Woodroofe

Lighting Designer - Paul Jackson

Composer/ Sound Designer- Joe Paradise Lui