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Images credit: Brett Boardman

POSTED: 01 DECEMBER 2009

The Mysteries: Genesis, by Hilary Bell & Lally Katz

Sydney Theatre Company's The Residents | Wharf 2, Walsh Bay, Sydney | Until 19 Dec

It must have been the most desirable gig in the land for the rising stars of Australian theatre: selection in Sydney Theatre Company’s The Residents, a permanent ensemble working closely with Associate Artistic Director Tom Wright and regularly rubbing shoulders with Artistic Directors Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett.

That was the opportunity presented mid-year to nine young actors, one of whose first tasks was to join writers Hilary Bell and Lally Katz and directors Matthew Luton, Andrew Upton and Tom Wright in a reworking of classic medieval Mystery plays based on the Old Testament tales of The Creation, of Eve’s seduction of Adam with the apple, of their consequent expulsion from Eden, of Cain and Abel, and of Noah and The Flood.

All nine star in The Mysteries: Genesis — Richard Pyros (God), Cameron Goodall (Adam), Sophie Ross (Eve, Barbara), Zindzi Okenyo (Penguin, Cain’s daughter, neighbour), Brett Stiller (Lucifer in prologue, Cain), Alice Ansara (Lucifer in garden, Abel, Emzara), Ursula Mills (Death, Johanna), Tahki Saul (Seth, Noah) and Julia Ohannessian (Cain’s granddaughter, Sylvia).

The three-Act, three-hour show is, quite simply, stunning, exciting and vividly entertaining.

The Wharf 2 space has been transformed into a black, two-level gallery surrounding a central square. Mostly the action takes place in the square but, especially in Act 2, moves into the upper gallery level. Mostly, the audience is in the galleries but, again in Act 2, can also stroll through the square, mingling with the players.

If nudity offends thee, then stay away, especially from Act 1, when stark nakedness absolutely rules as Adam and Eve give in to temptation and slide down the slippery slope of earthly delights. The Old Testament God starts off with kindness, understanding and generosity but underneath is obviously a very obstinate and unforgiving fellow.

The acting is raw (in more ways than one) and scintillating, the stage effects quite magnificent. Full marks to the whole crew.

But while the storytelling in Act 1 is quite traditional, it becomes quite bent in Act 2, when God dons a business suit and confesses that things have gone quite awry with his grand vision of an idyllic Earth inhabited by perfectly obedient innocents.

And Act 3 presents a quite disturbed — and disturbing — Noah perched on a pile of mattresses, building to the cubit the ark that God had requested of him.

Once again the stage effects, costumes and lighting are exemplary, occasionally breathtaking. Huge plaudits to Alice Babidge (set and costume), Paul Jackson (lighting), Kingsley Reeve (sound), Janet Eades (production manager), and John Reid and Millie Mullinar (stage managers).

The Residents have set themselves a very high bar with The Mysteries: Genesis. If they can maintain that standard, Sydney theatre fans are in for some delicious treats.

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