Blue Sky Theatre productions. 2 Aug 2024
The university years – ah was it just yesterday? For the protagonists of this play, it was the ‘eighties in Northern England although really, apart from the accents, it could have been anytime, anywhere.
Three young women, disparate characters who meet up in the dorms during their first year of university, move in together for the next two years of their respective degrees. Di (Nicole Rutty) is the sporty lesbian who is studying business, Viv (Kate Anolak) is the serious feminist sociologist and Rose (Allison Scharber) is the fun-loving, sex-loving art historian. The assumption here, in accepted ‘house buddy’ fashion, is that they will influence each other, absorbing parts of each personality, but that just doesn’t happen. Instead, they acknowledge each other’s quirks while also calling out concerning behaviors eg Rose’s turnstile of lovers, Di’s lack of lovers and Viv’s sexual diffidence.
The production begins with a physical minimalism: there is no set, and props are passed between each other like relay batons; a phone headpiece here, a folder there. It makes for a quick pace to begin with as the vignettes setting up the narrative come thick and fast. What does become obvious quite quickly is that this play is not a lightweight chick flick. The writing is intelligent and incisive, and while the invariable house party and domestic discord (the laundry!) scenes turn up, they’re tempered by some sharp observations on familial relationships and personal demons.
The progression of time is projected on screen rear of stage; we begin in 1983 and work our way (slowly) through to 2010. As noted however, this could be anytime anywhere. Apart from stamping the time signature with music cues (Madonna, Amii Stewart, Cyndi Lauper et al) there is no reference to the world outside the house. Viv comes forth with a dissertation on corsetry and feminism, a scene which could have (should have?) included a reference, however oblique to the fact that Margaret Thatcher was the current Prime Minister and the first woman to hold that position.
The first act is long - around ninety minutes - and we’re still in the ‘eighties by the end of it, albeit still firmly in the cocoon of the house. The cast works hard and with great reward. Emotional highs and lows keep the audience captivated and Angela Short’s tight production is only let down occasionally by weaknesses in Amelia Bullmore’s script. While some judicious editing is probably in order, particularly in the overly long first act, there are also unanswered questions and dangling threads - what happened to Abby Mathews from the laundromat?
As the production moves into Act Two and the new century, the cast transitions smoothly into the joys and disappointments of growing older, reflecting the physical and emotional toll of separation. Increasingly, the initial gentle motif of boxes becomes more of a metaphor for the changes in their lives and relationships, both binding and fracturing their friendship.
There are wrenching moments that Nicole Rutty handles beautifully, from the powerful, painful howl to the rawness of grief. Kate Anolak grows into her role as Viv, with a masterful monologue near play’s end. Allison Scharber has read Rose to a tee, and we teeter between disapproval and admiration at her life choices, but we’re always entertained by this bright personality.
Di and Viv and Rose is no mere paean to female friendship and in the very capable hands of Blue Sky it is a thoughtful, emotional, entertaining look at love and pain and the whole damn thing.
Arna Eyers-White
When: 2 to 11 Aug
Where: Marion Cultural Centre
Bookings: blueskytheatre.com.au
