La Merda: A Deeply Personal Spoken And Sung Monologue – Adelaide Festival Review

Space Theatre, Thu Mar 5 From the Festival program booklet I was fearfully expecting an hour of incomprehensible screaming, and provocative dance movements performed by an intensely angry naked woman. What we got instead was a naked woman sitting on a stool, delivering a compelling, neurotic monologue with a lot to say about obsessions with self-image, fame, and the need to be accepted - from a character who has endured some terrible experiences. Yes the performance is challenging, as her story takes you to some very dark places, but it’s hard not to admire Silviana Gallarano’s grasp of her character. The script is rapid-fire, and its delivery is a superb feat of acting. Although it has done much to bring this performance to public attention it is not totally clear why the character is nude. Apart from the obvious metaphor of ‘naked ambition’ and vulnerability, it is hard not to think that Cristan Ceresalis’ powerful text and Silvia Gallarano’s bravura performance would have been just as effective had Gallerano been clothed. But it is what it is. The performance ends with a song, more lullaby than rant, followed by total darkness. The audience seems confused by this, and there is a long silence until the house lights go up, when there is rapturous applause. At the end of a performance in which the actor has been naked to the audience she modestly takes her bows wrapped in an Italian flag. Not for the faint-hearted, but well worth seeing if you like your theatre at the cutting edge. Adrian Miller La Merda continues at Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, until Sun Mar 8. Book atFringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.  Image courtesy of Valeria Tomasulo