Noir
Meow Media

Cast: Christie Hayes, Roanna Dempsey, Costa Ronin, Gary Brun, Wayne Tunks, Dave Poland, Stef Dawson, Alan Lao and Georgii Speakman.

Director: Dana-Lee Mierowsky
Written By: Peter Straughan

Publicist: Watchdog Communications

Australian Premiere: PACT Theatre, Sydney. Thursday, April 5, 2007.


The Lowdown:
Indepenedent theatre production. Much of the publicity surrounded cast member Christie Hayes, a known soap star.


AussieTheatre.com Review:
Peter Straughan's Noir has a little bit of everything - murder, unrequieted love, gambling problems, the "c" word, comedy, a gorgeous blonde in her underwear and a little bit of gangster style to go with it all.

This dark, underground play is by no means sensational but it's got plenty of good elements - the sub-plot of Howard's (Wayne Tunks) battle with gambling and his theft of money from his local church is almost just as interesting as the piece's main storyline, which focuses on George (Greg Hatton) and his problems with wife Ruth (Roanna Dempsey). George enlists (not by choice) the services of private eye Ray (Gary Brun) to follow his wife. Of course, in true B-Grade 'noir' style, Ray follows the wrong girl. He meets Alison (Christie Hayes), who goes along with the story that she's Ruth, and the pair end up falling for each other.

They aren't the only plotlines though - along the way other bits and pieces creep in and in some ways this is a distraction, but quick scene changes mean it's not long before the audience is back where the action is.

The revelation at the end of the play almost explains the piece's flaws, however it should not go un-noticed that this is one bumpy ride. The play's structure never lets it get off the ground, the scene changes are often clunky and the background music is inconsistent and distracting, though obviously one of the crucial hints to the "surprise" at the play's conclusion.

Noir really is a tale of two acts. At intermission, the play very much hasn't sold itself to the audience. There's a lot of holding back, the script's lighter moments are seemingly brushed over and there's a lot of 'rush rush' about it. However, things pick up in the second act and it's a much sharper hour, with a few one-line pearlers - such as one about oral sex and ice cream - that are nothing short of brilliant.

The play perhaps isn't my cup of tea but there's some standout scenes that deserve to be mentioned. The scene between Ruth and Morris (Costa Ronin) where she first discovers he is not actually a student is warm, funny and brings a smile to one's face, and another between the pair later where they are figuring out their future is also solid. In fact, it is the scenes between these two characters that take the play away from its underground style and actually add a little bit of emotion to the whole thing.

Cast wise, Noir is a mixed bag.

Wayne Tunks is amusing and fun as the dorky, confused but well-meaning Howard (and who would have thought we'd see him singing an ABBA song), while Gary Brun as Ray is the play's highlight. He's still got plenty of work to do, but he clearly has a lot of potential and the signs of a standout actor were very much alive and well.

Roanna Dempsey - who I first saw play Eponine in a production of Les Miserables at the Glen Street Theatre some time ago - is uneven as Ruth, but seems to escape from her first act nerves for a much improved performance in the second act. Stef Dawson, Greg Hatton, Alan Lao, David Poland, Costa Ronin and Georgii Speakman are good without being brilliant.

Christie Hayes exemplifies the problem with shows like Home and Away. Soap shows such as this make young actors into stars overnight and often crucial training years go missing, and bad habits are picked up. While Hayes is entertaining in parts, the actor this show is very much being sold on struggles to reach the heights of her more experienced, yet less well known, actors. However, at age 20, she clearly still has plenty of growth; it's just unfortunate that her previous work labels her as a superstar actor already, something that is probably unfair to both her and the ticket-buyers.

Noir is by far a brilliant play and hence, it's hardly a wonderful production. But it does have its place and it's certainly not in the "don't even bother" category. There's good moments here that make it worth seeing. And the PACT Theatre is the perfect place for it; its surrounds and often eery feeling make a sensational home for what is an extremely dark piece at times.


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Further Information:
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