THEATRE
Written by Merlynn Tong, by Melbourne Theatre Company
At Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne until 30 Nov 2024
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: **1/2 (2.5)
This review is published only on this blog. I’ll
present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 2 Nov 2024. KH
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| Golden Blood.- Merlynnn Tong, Charles Wu- Image Credit Prudence Upton |
Golden Blood is a two-hander written by Merlynn Tong and performed by Tong with Charles Wu.
In a series of episodes, the play tracks a Singaporean girl and her older brother as they renegotiate their relationship after the death of their neglectful, alcoholic mother which leaves them orphaned.
The Girl believes her mother left her a significant inheritance, but her brother pressures her into accepting him as her guardian, and he remains her guardian until her 21st birthday.
The rituals of traditional Chinese funerals are dotted throughout the play: burning cash and offering gold. Bad omens and unlucky actions or words are woven into the narrative.
The play does not glamorise their lives or their culture. These are not the privileged middle class of Singapore. The brother and sister, known only as Girl and Boy, are born of criminals and live the life.
The Boy is a criminal working for a crime gang and living a tough life trying to make millions out of lame projects and getting beaten for every failure.
Tong’s script has some funny exchanges and some compelling ideas and imagery. However, the dialogue and story are repetitive and laboured in this 100-minute play. It could be done in 30 to 45 minutes.
Wu’s performance is animated and charged with anxiety and bravado of a young man living on the edge of a danger with a criminal gang. He manages to give the character more layers than the script provides and bring an edge of danger to the stage when he sees and hears his mother’s ghostly presence.
Tong’s performance is more convincing in the latter part of the play when Girl is older and wiser and develops into a wily, 21-year-old businesswoman. However, Tong’s characterisation lacks range and nuance as the young, teenage Girl.
Director, Melissa Leong, sets the production on an almost empty stage and focuses on the rapid interactions between the pair. She uses evocative lighting (Fausto Brusamolino) and atmospheric sound (Rainbow Chan) to establish the chaotic, drug-fuelled, anxiety-driven lifestyle of this odd couple of siblings.
Golden Blood has potential as a play but the script needs significantly more development.
By: Kate Herbert.
Cast
Merlynn Tong – Girl
Charles Wu – Boy
Creative Team
Melissa Leong – Director
Set
& Costume Designer - Michael Hankin
Lighting Designer - Fausto Brusamolino
Composer & Sound Designer - Rainbow Chan
Dramaturg - Jennifer Medway
Effects Consultant - Emily Parsons-Lord
Stage
Manager - Jennifer Jackson
Assistant Stage Manager - Liz Bird.
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| Golden Blood- Charles Wu- Image Credit Prudence Upton |
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