KATE HERBERT Arts Weekly3MBS SAT1MAR2025

In this radio spot on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 1 March, I chat with host, Phillipa Edwards about my reviews of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, at Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, and Truth by Patricia Cornelius at Malthouse. 

 It's 11min 15.

 

 

And Then There Were None REVIEW 22 Feb 2025 ***1/2

 

THEATRE

Written by Agatha Christie

At Comedy Theatre, Melbourne until 23 March 2025

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 1 Mar 2025. KH

 

Cast-And Then There Were NoneMelbourne-Pic Jeff Busby

Agatha Christie's murder mystery play, And Then There Were None, adapted from her iconic novelA, has a cunningly simple premise: ten strangers, each harbouring a dark secret from their past, are lured to isolated Soldier Island by a mysterious host. A storm rages outside and they are trapped and, one by one, the guests meet their untimely deaths. Suspicion grows, accusations fly and the remote and opulent mansion becomes a deadly prison.

 

Christie was a master of suspense and her genius lies in her ability to manipulate the audience's expectations. And Then There Were None is not merely a jolly old murder mystery, it is an exploration of guilt, justice, and the corrupting nature of secrets.

Each character is flawed, haunted by past actions they desperately try to conceal. Christie peels back their layers, slowly revealing the darkness that lurks beneath their carefully constructed facades. We witness the unravelling of their civility as fear and self-preservation grip them, turning them against each other in a grim fight for survival.

 

Robyn Nevin’s production explores the claustrophobic atmosphere and mounting tension but does not take itself too seriously, capturing the playfulness of Christie’s ever-so-British dialogue that ranges from witty quips from smart-mouthed young men, to the whining and carping of the “downstairs” staff: the cook and butler.

 

The versatile and capable cast features some very fine Australian theatre actors, all of whom relish the cleverly wrought dialogue and the twists and turns of the script.

 

And Then There Were None is not merely a whodunit; it's a psychological thriller that delves into the darker aspects of human nature leading us down blind alleys and planting seeds of doubt that keep us guessing until the very end. It is a testament to the enduring power of a well-crafted mystery. Thank you, Mrs Christie!

 

Cast

Jack Bannister -Anthony Marston

Eden Falk – Dr Armstrong

Jennifer Flowers – Emily Brent

Nicholas Hammond – General Mackenzie

Mia Morrissey – Vera Claythorne

Peter O’Brien – William Blore

Christen O’Leary – Mrs Rogers

Chris Parker –Fred Narracott

Anthony Phelan – Sir Lawrence Wargrave

Grant Piro – Mr Rogers

Tom Stokes – Philip Lombard

 

Creative Team

Robyn Nevin – Director

Paul Charlier – Sound Designer

Trudy Dalgliesh – Lighting Designer

Dale Ferguson – Set & Costume Designer

Truth REVIEW Malthouse Theatre, 18 Feb 2025 ***1/2

THEATRE

Written by Patricia Cornelius, by Malthouse Theatre

At Malthouse Theatre until 8 March 2025

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 1 Mar 2025. KH

Truth_cast- photo Pia Johnson

Patricia Cornelius’ new play, Truth, directed by Susie Dee, is an ambitious examination of whistleblowers and “hacktivists”, with a focus on the complex and confusing moral landscape that surrounds hacking as a form of political protest.

 

At the heart of the play is Julian Assange, the eccentric, driven and flawed man who started WikiLeaks and was accused of treason by the US government. However, Cornelius depicts some hackers – known only by their online “handles” – that started the hacktivism, and also deals briefly with Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden’s whistleblowing.

 

Cornelius’ play is unflinchingly committed to exploring uncomfortable truths, interweaving historical context, personal narratives and philosophical debates, although the script is sometimes too didactic and dense with information. She portrays the complexities of Assange’s character, exposing both his brilliance and is flaws.

 

Dee's production, performed by a skilful ensemble on a minimalist set with inventive multimedia, creates a feeling of confinement, mirroring the psychological pressures and ethical dilemmas faced by the characters.

 

Perhaps the most powerful moment in the play is the chilling, authentic drone footage of the horrific killing of Iraqi civilians by US forces. The cold, detached perspective of the drone camera, juxtaposed with the actors' voices portraying the callous indifference of the operators, is a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of the information Assange and WikiLeaks sought to expose.

 

Truth is not a comfortable night in the theatre; it will leave you talking about its issues on the way home and those images of drone killings with haunt your dreams.  It challenges the audience with complex issues and an unwavering commitment to truth-telling that demands our attention and critical thinking.

 

by Kate Herbert

 

 

Creative Team

PATRICIA CORNELIUS -Writer

SUSIE DEE - Director

MATILDA WOODROOFE -Set & Costume Design

PAUL JACKSON -Lighting Design

KELLY RYALL – Sound Design

MERI BLAZEVSKI -Video Design

 

Cast

EMILY HAVEA -Ensemble

TOMÁŠ KANTOR -Ensemble

JAMES O’CONNELL -Ensemble

EVA REES -Ensemble

EVA SEYMOUR -Ensemble

 

 

 

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