In New York playwright Rajiv Joseph’s play, ‘Animals Out Of Paper’ the audience follows world renowned origami artist Ilana Andrews’s story. The play starts with Ilana’s life having come to something of a dead-end. Her husband has walked out on her, her much loved three legged dog has run away, and worst of all, she has a serious case of folder’s block. Then one morning she receives a visit from Andy, one of her biggest fans and the Treasurer of American Origami.

Andy has stopped by at Ilana’s because her annual dues to American Origami are over-due. Ilana sharply retorts, ‘I can be a recluse for months and no-one does anything and then the only time American Origami looks for you is when your fees are due!’ Andy, sensing that Ilana is in a funk, gives her a pep talk and shares with her some of his self styled blessings from his journal.

As well, he asks Ilana if she would tutor one of his Indian calculus students, Suresh, who is a troubled kid but one has an extraordinary gift for origami. Ilana’s first reaction is to say to Andy that she isn’t interested, ‘I don’t do tutoring’, but at the start of the next scene the intercom buzzes, and Suresh waltzes in for his first session with Ilana.

That is the set-up to New York playwright Rajiv Joseph’s warm, delicate play ‘Animals Out Of Paper’ that is given a memorable Australian premiere production by Mark Kilmurry at Sydney’s Ensemble theatre.

This is an evening for the theatre connoisseur! Joseph’s characters are well drawn and contrasted, and sensitively played by the cast. Tara Morice captures Ilana’s journey well, from being a brusque, snarly woman, she reveals her warmer colours. Drayton Morley’s captures the quintessential gentle, decent man that is Andy. Arka Das charts his character’s journey well from Suresh being a troubled, insolent, boy genius, with his ipod glued to his ears, blaring hip hop music, to a more mature, reflective figure by play’s end.

Joseph’s writing features quality dialogue, and a clear narrative that builds well to an authentic, uncompromising climax. The play has some great one liners that reveal so much about character. A favourite was Andy, reflecting on Suresh’s hip hop nickname for him, jokingly telling Ilana in the restaurant scene that begins Act 2, ‘I never used to be cool. Now I must be just a bit cool!’.

Graham MacLean’s set effectively portrayed the play’s different settings; Ilana’s messy, very arty studio, a table at a romantic restaurant, and a modern Japanese hotel room where Ilana and Suresh travel to for an origami conference. As one goes into the Ensemble theatre foyer, in a vibrant conceptual touch, the foyer walls showcase a rich variety of origami work.

Mark Kilmurry’s production of Rajiv Joseph’s ‘Animals Out Of Paper’, as delicately crafted as an intricate work of origami, plays the Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli until the 24th April, 2010.