Sugar Might Be Addictive…

Sugar

Sugar Rating

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2

Wow! What a yummy treat this cabaret was. I ate it up and didn’t want it to end! Tomàš Kantor sucked us into the story from the get-go with clever use of current pop bangers that we all know, and love. From Chappell Roan to Gaga, the Sugababes and TikTok hits, the music always encapsulated the story in an interesting and unique way. The rollercoaster of emotions throughout was relatable and we were rooting for the very lovable Tomàš as Sugar. Honestly, in this economy, who hasn’t contemplated taking the “easy way out” and becoming a sex worker after watching Pretty Woman. Especially easy to relate to if you’ve ever been a struggling uni student living in a share house.

Tomàš performance of this (as far as I can tell), true story, was powerful, fun and playful. I loved the use of the poppiest of songs arranged in a cabaret format. I died when Prada played. They gave us clever costume, prop and set use, great vocals, dance breaks and played multiple instruments. What a multi-talented and intelligent performer! The characters were all interesting, well-defined and had a point of view. The story was clear. I feel as if this is a show you could see many times and notice new clever intricacies each time. Tomàš and Bullet Heart Club (Ro Bright – show writer & Kitan Petkovski – director) deserve high praise for this!

 

 

Don’t be distracted by the sparkles though. Not only was it funny, but there were poignant moments as well. These included some insight into why sex work is often not “easy money.” This is a job which requires incredible sacrifice of self and often places the worker into perilous personal situations where they have no power or recourse for wrongs committed. This window into sugar-babying throws light on some inherent class divides and the power imbalance of these transactional relationships. There was subtle commentary on internalised queerphobia too, and I had goosebumps when they started singing the last song.

The show included considerable (optional) audience participation and use of house lights which made for a very immersive theatre experience. This hooked us in for the ride and made us laugh. Word of warning, if you are uncomfortable with descriptions or portrayals of sex on stage this is maybe not the show for you. However, those who are down, you are in for a thrilling collective release. I was unsure how the audience would react at the Hayes, but they loved it! Tomàš is so charismatic and charming that we feel as if we are a friend getting the tea.

Ultimately, such a fun journey, I laughed and sympathised with Sugar. I would heartily recommend going to see Sugar if you get the chance. This debut cabaret has already won multiple awards, and rightly so, Tomàš is a talent to watch. Look out Edinburgh…

To book tickets to Sugar, please visit http://hayestheatre.com.au/event/sugar/.

Photographer: James Reiser

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Ruby Moon

Ruby Moon

Ruby Moon Rating

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3

Ruby Moon is a contemporary Australian play that explores the grim mythology of the missing child in Australian folklore. The play explores the shift towards fear and uneasiness in suburbia, where community and connection were once championed. Ruby Moon is a six-year-old who has gone missing, and her parents are trying to simultaneously navigate their heartache and how they can exist in a world without her while still looking for clues as to where she went. It’s a desperate combination of grief and hope.

I was a little worried about how dark the themes in Ruby Moon would be when I invited my mum to come with me, on Valentine’s Day. Often, plays with a serious theme tend to hit viewers over the head with their message. This play, however, was surprising in all the right ways and, thankfully, did not do this. Ruby Moon is, instead, an intelligent invitation to ponder over the issues of child abduction, grief, community, security, and domestic violence without leaving feeling bludgeoned.

 

Upon walking into the Newcastle Young People’s Theatre, I was struck by the beauty of the set design and how it truly conveyed that we were in Australian suburbia. Little did I know how cleverly it would be utilised as well. The director, Samuel Jenkins, was also responsible for set and costume design and he truly out did himself. The clever use of props and a clothesline made for a wonderful ability to transport the audience into a new space with a spin of the hills hoist.

Greg Shearer and Mary Shearer built the set. Alex Lane coordinated the costumes and received help from Cynthia Boyd and Wendy Leis to construct them. The lighting was excellent, with wonderful use of back lighting on the stage and shadows. The sound was well used to create eerie scenes where you weren’t quite sure what was real.

Both cast members, Aoife Gregory and Samantha Lambert, were outstanding. From when the audience was entering and the house lights still up, they were in character and building the story. For me, one of the marks of a great actor is the ability to create genuine emotion in response to the character they are portraying, and I truly had a visceral reaction of dislike to Ray. Aoife was so expressive and, at times, absurd. She absolutely threw herself into each of the four characters she played with brilliant use of her body.

At times you could hardly believe it was the same person! Samantha Lambert truly shone in the role of Sylvie and was equally convincing in the other characters she played as well. I completely forgot that it was just Samantha playing all these wildly different and colourful characters. It was as if I was transported into Sylvie’s mind and all the scenarios the loss of a child conjures up.

 

I was at the edge of my seat, searching alongside the main characters for the next clue in the mystery. I appreciated that the play had both intense moments and moments of light-heartedness and absurdity. Overall, it was very enjoyable to watch these true artists at work, and I highly recommend seeing Ruby Moon for a thought-provoking theatre experience. It’s definitely a great jumping-off point for conversations about the sometimes subtle nature of domestic violence, safety in the community, and grief.

For more information about Ruby Moon and Young People’s Theatre Newcastle, please visit https://ypt.org.au/.

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