Buried At Sea: Mark Salvestro Delivers An Engaging Re-enactment Of A Personal Gallipoli Story – Adelaide Fringe Review

Tandanya Arts Cafe – Thu 16 Mar. Buried At Sea is three plays in one – it's a story about playwright and actor Mark Salvestro's great uncle George and his life cut short in 1915, injured at Gallipoli and then literally ‘buried at sea’ from the hospital ship. It’s a parallel story of his own life and a little about his obsession with finding out about this great uncle, and interestingly, it’s also about the not-so-glamorous writing of the play itself. I will admit to being a little shy about the over-sentimentality that often infects anything associated with the stories of Gallipoli and I’m happy to say that this treats the subject fairly and respectfully, while not reducing the episode to glorification, nor laying the idea of nation-building at its feet. The device of a slight dimming of the lights is completely effective in changing the ‘scene’ from one story to the next, which are interweaved in a creative, artful and effective manner. The staging is relatively simple, a portrait of George on one side, a hat rack/coat hanger on the other and a seat/bench/stand in the middle. You’ll get some great acting, but more, it is quite evident that Mark feels the importance of the story deep inside – and it shows. 4 stars Clayton Werner Buried At Sea continues at Tandanya Arts Cafe until Sun 19 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe