[THEATRE & PHYSICAL THEATRE ~ VIC ~ SA PREMIERE]
The Arch at Holden Street Theatres, Wed 12 Mar, 2025.
Sometimes theatre audiences need a few clues to help them understand what is happening on stage. Francis’ Greenslade’s new play, The Platypus, is such a play, and Greenslade kindly spoon feeds us a few clues in a funny little meta-aside where the two actors are passing comment on the play as if they are with us in the audience. It’s a device that Greenslade returns to as part of the conclusion to this challenging and entertaining show.
A key phrase here, and the biggest clue we were given, is about ‘creating your own genre’. Or put another way, we wear different masks for different situations. We all do it, but we’re often not aware of it until people close to us see us in another milieu and comment on it. It’s a fascinating aspect of human behaviour and can be something to be admired by others. In a couple situation however, if the relationship road is rocky, it can be a source of irritation and annoyance. “If you’re such a pain at home why are you so nice to people at the kid’s football???” This is especially irritating if it involves something that might be considered flirtatious.
Richard (John Leary) and Jess (Rebecca Bower) are struggling. Their relationship is hanging by a thread and they’re trying to keep it together for their little Joe. They have money troubles, clearly have very different attitudes to raising kids, and have in-law issues. Stress permeates every second of their relationship and it’s about to blow up.
Outside the marital home we see Richard and Jess in different contexts where they have quite different relationships, enjoy taking on different roles, and literally do create different performance genres. We get high Shakespeare, stand-up comedy, soap opera, reality TV, musical, ventriloquism even. This is both entertaining and a little challenging to keep up with, but it helps Richard and Jess get through their day. At the end of which of course they need to return home and the stress just starts all over again.
Both Bower and Leary are quite wonderful in their respective roles. I found it challenging at times, but they seemed able to slip in and out of the different characters and transition from one genre to another with ease.
I had one big problem with The Platypus however. The main male character, Richard, is very unlikeable. To put it bluntly, he’s a pain in the arse. Greenslade obviously intended him to be that way but his boorish behaviour is typical of so many men with zero skills in conflict resolution and who just shout and bluster to try and get their own way. Jess is far from perfect but she is more tolerant and at least attempts to be reasonable. Richard as played here deserves to be left!
In the end the couple’s woes are left unresolved. There are glimmers of hope but not much else. If there was to be The Platypus part two it would need to involve a skilled counsellor!
A curious and entertaining play that focuses on relationship issues that we’re all familiar with but offers no solution. The fact that The Platypus is also a play about theatre and performance raises it to another level. I’m sure that if I had attended a tutorial or similar that discussed all the genres and notable characters from famous scenes that are referenced in this play I would enjoy it even more.
4 stars
Michael Coghlan
The Platypus continues at The Arch at Holden St Theatres, at various times, until Sun 23 Mar.
Book at FringeTIX and adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.
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The Clothesline Rating...
Michael Coghlan
A curious and entertaining play that focuses on relationship issues travelling across multiple genres.
