The New Tenant - Lunchtime Theatre Review
This week’s Lunchtime Theatre is the first of the pieces from the 2014 Honours directing class, starting with The New Tenant by Eugene Ionesco, directed by Audrey Morgan.
In a nutshell, The New Tenant, like most absurdist theatre, is about the pointlessness of existence. The play is simply about a man we only know as “the Gentleman” (James Caley), moving into a new apartment. There’s not a lot of plot, and for the later half of the play, not a lot of dialogue. However this isn’t one of those “why even carry on living, nothing means anything” sort of pieces, on the contrary, it’s, for want of a better word, a “nothing means anything so YOLO” sort of piece. Accessible absurdism, if you will.
Morgan’s direction is fantastic, her work is tight and well paced, and it keeps on pushing forward, without getting messy (which is impressive in a piece like this). Her decision to play up the humorous aspects was a smart choice; she presents something joyful, light and fun. Underneath there is still a clear connection to death, the image of a makeshift coffin is apparent, but Morgan doesn’t allow the viewer to dwell on this.
Hannah Port, as the bustling, gossipy Caretaker, deserves special mention for the sheer amount of energy she brings to the table. She’s hilarious, and very successfully carries a sizable monologue, about absolutely nothing, without ever easing off the throttle. Also great accent. An absolute gem.
Bene Stewart and Orion Carey-Clark do all the heavy lifting in this piece, literally, as the two furniture movers. They’re almost more like dancers than actors, moving in and around both each other and the props within the space. It is an absolute joy to watch. They bring a huge amount of charisma to the piece, which is hard when your part consists of moving furniture and saying “Sir” a lot, but somehow they manage to pull it off.
James Caley is the pillar that holds the show together; he has a quiet confidence that he brings to the character, which doesn’t come off as arrogant or cocky, and keeps the tone light. He shows real restraint, allowing the staging and other characters, to shine. There is also a subtle, slow building excitement within him, which keeps with the tempo of the show, that is so enjoyable to watch unfold on the stage. It is a testament to Caley’s skill as an actor, that he can make what is in actuality a challenging role, look so easy.
It is hard to describe why the individual components of The New Tenant are good; it’s how everything works together so seamlessly, that makes it successful. Watching the cast navigate the stage so skilfully is so entertaining. It’s funny, sometimes a little scary, and always slick and pacey. The sound and lighting provide great, simple backing and using the proscenium arch works brilliantly (also a radical choice, for Allen Hall at least). Morgan really should be proud of what she has achieved, definitely a highlight of this years Lunchtime Theatre season, and definitely a must see.
Jordan Dickson
