Review: Silver

HOME > THEATRE > ARCHIVES 2009 >

POSTED: 21 OCTOBER 2009

Silver, by Matthew Whittet

B Sharp | Belvoir Street Theatre, Surry Hills, Sydney | Until 1 November

I first encountered Matthew Whittet earlier this year at Sydney Theatre Company’s excellent production of The Wonderful World of Dissocia, in which he played a variety of roles and showed great talent and humour.

It was a great pleasure to see him again at Belvoir Downstairs for something quite different — sitting alone onstage, recounting a fairytale, dreamlike story he had himself written.

Basically, he weaves the tale of a teenage girl who wanders into the forest one morning, attracted by a vision she sees over the fence while having breakfast.

From there on, it’s pure fantasy ... being traded by her father to a stranger in exchange for an easier life ... having her hands chopped off ... marrying the stranger ... receiving a replacement pair of silver hands ... returning home and being made whole again ... etc.

What is really beautiful about this production, apart from the simplicity of the story, is Whittet’s ability to so compellingly weave the tale and so personally involve the audience.

At times he looks straight into your eyes and talks directly to you. You know you shouldn’t engage and talk back, but it really is very difficult not to.

This is an absolutely charming hour of theatre ... beautifully written and absolutely convincingly played out. Go see for yourself.

CLICK HERE to email Oz Baby Boomers with a comment regarding this play or review.

HOME > THEATRE > ARCHIVES 2009 >