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Clever, Creative and Eerie – The Turn of the Screw

The Turn of the Screw, written and directed by Tooth and Sinew’s Richard Hilliar (after Henry James) was a very clever and creative production.

An eerie atmosphere was established, from the moment the audience walked into the theatre through the mist to their seats. The preshow orchestral interlude, composed by sound designer Chrysoulla Markoulli purposefully used amplification and dynamics to capture my attention and left me with an unsettled feeling.

Whilst waiting for the show to begin, I got a subtle hint of what was to come by seeing the addition of something strange growing down from the ceiling onto the walls, it was creepy. These preshow elements caught all my senses to ensure a mysterious introduction to The Turn of the Screw.

The play was an adaptation of a well-known novella by Henry James and classified as a psychological thriller. A young governess is hired to supervise and take care of two children by their Uncle and is sent to live at an isolated property in the English countryside, joining the mansion’s housekeeper Mrs Grose.

It is here in the house where the governess experiences something unsettling, and the audience is first introduced to the idea that all may not be what it seems within this family and indeed, within the house itself and the surrounding grounds.

As the story progressed, so did the suspense. The underlying tension continued to mount as strange things involving the children occurred and we are left to question if the Governess, in her attempt to protect the children, is a reliable narrator.  There were some spine-chilling supernatural moments throughout the story, complemented by the lighting, sound and acting that made me shiver!

There was an effective use of costumes, set design and props to clearly define the era without explicitly telling the audience, in the late 1800’s. The colour palette of the set and costumes added to the authenticity and the mood.

All five cast members in the ensemble successfully pulled the audience directly into the show, with in depth believable performances. Each character had their own back story to unravel, and they did this superbly!

The Turn of the Screw was approximately 2 hours with a 20 minute interval.

Tickets are now on sale and is showing at The Seymour Centre from 21 July – 12 August 2023.

ADDRESS: The Seymour Centre, Corner City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale

TIMES: Wednesdays to Fridays 7:30pm; Saturdays 1:30pm & 7:30pm

BOOKINGS: https://www.seymourcentre.com/event/the-turn-of-the-screw/

or (02) 9061 5344

TICKETS: Full $49 / Seniors, Groups 8+ $39 / Concession, Under 35s $35

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Good Food and Wine Show

The Good Food and Wine Show rolls into the International Convention Centre in Sydney this weekend (June 23rd-25th), and it is not one to miss. Hall 2 of the ICC hosts a massive range of vendors this year, with food and drinks to satisfy all your cravings and curiosities.

A fun, carnival atmosphere hits visitors as they enter by Liqueurs on the Lawns, equipped with its very own DJ provided by Cointreau. For those who like a little spice in their life, Cointreau offers a spicy margarita made with Tabasco sauce, sure to warm anyone up in the cold Sydney weather. If spice is your thing, I recommend wandering over to the White Oat Distillery stall and checking out their Chilli Mango gin.

An avid gin drinker like myself is spoiled for choice this year, with local favourites Manly Spirits making a good showing and interstate distilleries like Underground Spirits, Canberra Distillery and Naught Distilling. This year’s surprise was Gin Mare, an olive and thyme savoury gin that would go perfectly with a nice charcuterie board and a lovely, crisp cheddar.

Speaking of cheeses, the Cheese Corner this year did not disappoint. Though small in terms of the number of vendors, the array of cheeses on offer was anything but. A nice mix of soft and hard cheeses is available to sample, and the general direction appears to be flavoured cheeses, with vendors providing less of the good old-fashioned basics, at least to sample. For those who purchased the Cheese Lovers ticket this year, the cooler bag provided with your ticket will be very useful.

Those with dietary restrictions need not miss out either. Amongst the cheese vendors is Noshing, priding themselves on creating 100% dairy-free cheeses that taste as good as the traditionally made cheeses available elsewhere. There were also a variety of non-alcoholic drinks to sample and many sugar-free and vegan options. The V2Food Plant-Based cooking stage could almost convince me to turn vegan, with the absolutely delicious dumplings and pies coming out semi-regularly.

There are classes and workshops aplenty for those who desire to brush up on their skills or perhaps try something new. I joined the Sodastream Mixology Moments masterclass in cocktail making. The two hosts, Penny and Stephanie, were a delight. They were incredibly personable and helpful and clearly loved what they were doing.

There is a also a little bit of celebrity action happening this weekend. Spanish-Australian chef Miguel Maestre, known for his work on Channel 10s The Living Room is teaching several classes and demonstrations, giving lucky viewers a chance to try his cooking firsthand. My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel is also making an appearance and teaching some classes of his own.

The 2023 Good Food and Wine Show is full to the brim with delectable food and drinks ready for the eager foodie or keen wine connoisseur. Any lover of good food would be a fool to miss out on this event.

This review also appears in It’s On The House.

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Money Money Money – When Dad Married Fury

David Williamson’s When Dad Married Fury is a cheeky comedy that explores the tensions created in the family unit when inheritance is discussed, especially when a new, young, beauty-queen wife joins the picture. Hunters Hill Theatre’s production brings both the funny – and flawed – character traits to the fore whilst tackling the darker themes of the play.

The simple set lets all the tension and drama hold its own space. Red-painted walls and a giant lit-up dollar sign make it no secret what the play’s themes will be about. Clever staging choices also made certain scenes and themes stand out. For example, the character of Judy had just lost all her savings and house and was now living somewhere “too small for a cockroach”. Her primary place on the stage was in a cramped corner on a small lounge. The furnishings were simple and homey but did a great job representing her small and crowded new home.

Cast & Crew
Judy (Jan Johnson), Laura (Melissa Jones)

While the musical score was minimal, intentionally allowing the drama on stage to unfold naturally, there were delightful and well-thought-out entrances for the father, Alan. These emphasised that Alan is a “smooth operator”, and David Kirkman’s strong acting exuded coolness.

Michael Richmond and Dave Went, who played the brothers, Ian and Ben, respectively, had great stage chemistry, and it was clear they were having a lot of fun bouncing off each other. A nice touch was when the actors gave each other a brotherly punch as they walked offstage after the audience applause. This may have been an opening-night-only-comradery, but it was a treat.

Moving to the more serious themes of the play, the character of Laura reminds the audience that the drama on the stage is so far detached from the grim reality of the political world around them. Although Laura requires broodiness and dismay in her portrayal, there is also much room for fun and lightness in her character. Melissa Jones shows the darker side of Laura well, but as the production season progresses, I hope Jones can experiment, play, and explore all that Laura has to offer.

Fury (Laura Stead), Alan (David Kirkham

Another serious theme the play explores is the harsh reality of financial risks. Whilst the brothers are fighting over who should get how many millions, Laura’s mother, Judy, is trying to adjust to her new life after her late husband lost all his money in Alan’s get-rich-quick scheme. Jan Johnson did a superb job drawing the audience in and pulling on their heartstrings. The passion in her monologue in Act 2 was amazing. Johnson’s Judy provided a definite sense of humanity to the monetary debate of inheritance.

Hunters Hill Theatre’s production of the play was simple yet effective. Excellent stage choices, great acting, and a cast that clearly enjoy each other’s on-stage company make this play a joy to watch.

When Dad Married Fury runs for two more weekends starting from 7:30 pm Friday 23rd June through to a closing matinee session on 2 pm Sunday 2nd July.

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A Singular Crime – Spanish Film Festival

A Singular Crime / Un Crimen Argentino is a 2022 thriller based on the 2002 Reynaldo Sietecasebook of the same name. It’s inspired by a true story occurring in 1980 Rosario, Argentina during the “Dirty War” military dictatorship.

The book was a best seller, and now the film leaves audiences just as intrigued as they try to solve the crime alongside the protagonists. It is airing at the 2023 Spanish Film Festival and is a must-watch for any who love a mystery.

Unlike the book, A Singular Crime primarily follows around two court clerks, Antonio González Rivas (Nicolás Francella) and Carlos Torres (Matías Mayer), alongside the judge’s secretary, Maria Bussato (Malena Sanchez), as they try to solve the case of a missing businessman named Gabriel “Turco” Samid (Pablo Tolosa).

Given the immense corruption of the Dirty War era Argentinian military, the clerks must race to solve the mystery before the police can close the investigation, dodging their interference at each step. The audience follow Rivas and Torres down rabbit-hole after rabbit-hole trying to figure out what happened to Samid, piecing together the last night before his disappearance and who could have demanded the one-million-dollar ransom.

They discover the struggle of solving the mystery when all of the authority figures sing the tune of “no body, no crime.” Fans of the book get to enjoy this story from another perspective, rather than following the story of the perpetrator. 

Director Lucas Combina definitely evokes the imagery of a Hollywood film set in the same time period, especially with the lighting and cinematography. It allows foreign viewers to feel familiar with the art style, appealing to a larger demographic. Francella and Mayer provide excellent performances but personally, Dario Grandinetti as Mariano Marquez was the standout star for me. 

If you’re attending the Spanish Film Festival in 2023, don’t miss A Singular Crime / Un CrimenArgentino. The festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is showing 32 films, not to mention highlighting the women in Spanish and Latin cinema. 

This review also appears on It’s On The House.

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