Disclaimer: This production has strobe lights and covers topics of mental health issues.
Ask any Western Australian resident about the Fremantle Art Centre and they’ll all ask you the same thing. “Isn’t that the place that’s haunted?”
That’s where our story takes place. Red Ticket, written and directed by Josie Walsh, is about a woman named Lily, played by Krysia Wiechecki, who is struggling with postpartum depression as she learns about the history of the Fremantle Art Centre. The second you walk into the theatre, you are immersed into Lily’s life. A flickering light hangs above an easel and music plays while you wait for the show to begin. The set is very simple with only a giant canvas as a backdrop as well as the easel as a prop. As the show progresses, Lily’s art transforms the stage, bringing you into Lily’s world even more. Words and pictures are drawn on the floor and Lily’s art is hung up around the theater.
The show opens with a distressing monologue from Lily. Sound effects, red light, and a smoke machine are used as she describes a recurring nightmare. The play begins after the monologue, with Janice, played by Hannah-Mary Anderson, who offers humor as a contrast to the dark monologue that we’ve just heard and takes place in the Fremantle Art Centre. Lily becomes obsessed with learning about the lunatic asylum that the Art Centre used to be and learns about a woman named Poppy, played by Kate Naunton Morgan, who was admitted to the asylum in the early 1900s several times while suffering from postpartum depression.
Both of the leading actresses do a remarkable job in capturing your attention during their monologues. I felt truly pulled in by their emotions and my heart strings tugged as Lily fell deeper into her depression and Poppy cried, unable to receive the same help that Lily is able to get at the end of the play. The ending is hopeful, letting others know that not only are they not alone but that help is available.
When Lily takes the stage alone, the theatre is dark, just like her thoughts. When she is joined by Janice, the lights are bright until finally darkness surrounds her at all times.The lighting designer, Topaz Knodel, has outdone herself in creating Poppy’s silhouette on the canvas as we learn about her and has a meticulous understanding on how to cleverly use light to tell a story. I also enjoyed the sound design and music, created by Zoe Garciano, who did an excellent job creating the perfect touch to complete the story and fully immerse the audience.
Red Ticket is playing at the Blue Room Theatre until 18 April. I highly recommend this play to anyone, but especially those who have struggled with mental health issues as they will find the story relatable.
To book tickets to Red Ticket, please visit https://blueroom.org.au/events/red-ticket/.
