Liz’s Score: 3.5 Stars
The New Theatre opened its doors in 1932 as the Sydney Workers Art Club with the slogan “Art is a Weapon”. It is therefore very appropriate that it hosts Australian’s premier of Collaborators by John Hodge. This black comedy is set in 1938 Russia where Stalin manipulates a hapless playwright, Mikhail Bulgakov, into an insidious collaboration compromising Mikhail and his art to serve Stalin’s public image. This play encapsulates the life of the beleaguered people of the USSR who live in a state of constant fear under the oppressive Stalinist regime.
Set, Costume and Props Designer (Colleen Cook) did a splendid job. Her set was an interesting angled arrangement of walls and sharp corners. This, combined with the lighting design (Martin Kinnane) evoked the mood of impending danger. The audience was perpetually aware of the close proximity of others including the NKVD and Stalin himself. The single set design accommodated all the scenes of the play and this feature, along with clever direction (Moira Blumenthal), facilitated a pacey and engaging production.
There was sound ensemble work from the actors but for me they sometimes failed to deliver on some of the play’s comedy. It is a difficult line between black comedy and farce but I feel a little more was required.
Stalin (Richard Cotter) and his interaction with the poor beleaguered Mikhail Bulgakov (Andy Simpson) was the highlight of the production. However the many changes to Mikhail’s physical and psychological state were sometimes not clear. Therefore the mood shift of the play from humour to horror was not fully realised.
The music, ‘Russian Rag’ by Elen Kats-Chernin , was a perfect soundscape for this dark comedy; a melancholy melody which at the same time managed to be quirky and humorous.
An enjoyable, good solid and well directed play.
Photo © Bob Seary
Liz O’Toole, Theatre Now Sydney
Collaborators
John Hodge
4 Jun – 6 Jul
Previews 4 & 5 Jun 7:30pm
Opening Night Thu 6 Jun 7:30pm
Thu – Sat 7:30pm
Sun 5pm
Sat 6 Jul 2pm only
Venue: New Theatre
Theatre Company: New Theatre
Duration: N/A
“It’s man verses monster. And the monster always wins.”
Moscow 1938. Not the best place to have a sense of humour, let alone a yearning for freedom.
So when prominent Russian writer, Mikhail Bulgakov, living among dissidents and hounded by the secret police, is given a surprise commission to pen a biographical drama about Joseph Stalin to celebrate his 60th birthday, he soon discovers there is a high price to pay.
In real life, Bulgakov’s work was regularly banned, but his play The White Guard was one of Stalin’s personal favourites. Inspired by this historical fact, Collaborators plunges into the frenzied imagination of the writer as he loses himself in a bizarre and disturbingly funny ‘role-reversal’ relationship with the dictator of the Soviet Union.
As the surreal fantasy plays out as a relentless psychological game of cat-and-mouse, the compromises and humiliations inflicted on artists by those in power are thrown into sharp relief.
This clever satire is a pointed look at the role and value of the artist in a totalitarian society.
Winner: 2012 Olivier Award for Best New Play
“Daring in its comedy, original and hugely entertaining” The Independent on Sunday
CREATIVE TEAM
Director Moira Blumenthal
Assistant Director Martin Kellly
Production Manager Sahn Millington
Ticket Prices
Full $35
Concession, Groups (6+) $30
New Theatre Members $22 (with promo code)
Previews, Thrifty Thursdays $20
