The Elevator by Eloise Snape
At the Ensemble Theatre
“Margot’s back from mat leave — and she’s not messing around. Before nappies and sleepless nights, Eco Engines was spiralling through a PR meltdown, tanking faster than you can say “carbon footprint.” Now she’s back in the CEO chair, ready to rally her team of corporate eco-warriors and clean up the mess. But her comeback hits a snag when she gets stuck in the office lift. As tensions rise, Margot’s cool starts melting faster than the polar ice caps. THE ELEVATOR is a sharp, funny and fearless dark comedy that’s anything but clean. Green washing, corporate spin and tangled lies — playwright Eloise Snape delivers a whirlwind of laughs and truth bombs in this new Australian play.”
The Elevator by Eloise Snape is one of the best new plays I have seen in a long time. If you want to be in the arts you have to have something to say, and Eloise Snape has it in spades. This is a play that every emerging playwright should see and study. It is a perfect balance of situational circumstances, comedy, drama and emotional gravitas.
I don’t often say this, but this is a perfectly cast show.
Shirong Wu as Alison is a master of comic timing. At first, I thought her breathy, broken voice would be annoying throughout the play but quickly realised it was a planned out character choice that was masterful. She eats the scenery and makes the most of every amazing one liner that Eloise Snape has craftily given her. I would see her in anything she is in.
Di Adams as Ollie is so grounded and delivers the amazing twist at the end with so much passion and skill, you don’t see it coming. I have enjoyed everything I have seen that she has been in, so I knew I was in safe hands when she was in the cast.
Leeanna Walsman as Margot probably has the most challenging role in the show but pulls it off brilliantly. Playing a CEO of a company that she is trying to save from disaster, while being one day postpartum of her first born daughter and stuck in a lift with two people she clearly can’t stand. I think if this had been given to anyone else they might have fumbled but Leeanna delivers one of the best performances of career to date in this role.
You can tell this must have been a joyous play to create in the rehearsal room. You can tell that director, Anthea Williams, let the cast have a huge sense of play. Certain accepts would have had to have been set but it is joyous to watch actors being let to do what they do best.
The set, lighting and costumes were stunning. Both Kelsey Lee and Keerthi Subramanyam, deserved a standing ovation alone.
It is also joyous to see an almost entirely cast and creative team of women working at the highest standard. There should be more of this, and I hope this team creates more impactful work like this together in the future.
I felt honoured to be able to experience this shows opening night and world premiere. Any time that a project of Eloise Snape’s is on I will be there.
Bolt as fast as you can to this glorious production and experience its magic.
The Elevator runs at the Ensemble Theatre until October 18th.
To book tickets to The Elevator, please visit https://www.ensemble.com.au/shows/the-elevator/.
Photographer: Prudence Upton
