With the mysterious arrival of Babette, a refugee from France’s civil war, life for two pious sisters in a tiny Norwegian village begins to change. This now famous story, Babette’s Feast, was a novella by Isak Dinesen (pen name Karen Blixen) written in1958 and made into the Oscar-winning film in 1987.
This play is nothing like the bleakly comedic film because the adaptation is based on the original novella, not the film. American Rose Courtney’s theatre script has been massaged and nurtured by Australia’s Abigail Killeen resulting in Joining the Dots Theatre Company’s (JTDT) Australian premier of Babette’s Feast, the play. It is delightfully amusing while commenting on religion, war, love, fear and the transformative power of lovingly prepared food.
The play is in Marrickville at the Greek Theatre in the Addison Road Centre. Note that JTDT is using this theatre space for the play – nothing to do with Aeschylus or Sophocles. There is plenty of parking within metres of the theatre and it is about 20 minutes from the city. The space has good acoustics, a raised platform for good sight lines and comfortable seating.
It also has a large foyer where JTDT has set up a dining room for its own feast. You can book for the show or the show with the dinner.
Who really is Babette? You won’t find out until near the end, but you suspect something special. Babette has convinced the pious townsfolk to try something other than boiled codfish and ale bread. When she proposes to cook them a gourmet French meal, they fear losing their souls for enjoying too much earthly pleasure – but enjoy they do!
This is wonderful, inventive independent theatre. Congratulations to Abigail Killeen and to Director Nicholas Papademetriou. The imaginative swinging set pieces work well, the village costumes are delightful and the feast itself is amazingly presented. JTDT is an inventive group of theatricals. You get the sense that they are enjoying themselves greatly, as is the audience.
The production showcases emerging and established performers – Matt Abotomey, Shameer Birges, James Bean, Alison Chambers, Dina Gillespie, Dilroop Khangura, Rowena McNicol, Julie Moore and Yves Stening. Rowen’s and Shameer’s gentle singing was a treat.
For tickets and information:
www:joiningthedotstheatre.com.au
On only until September 17
Greek Theatre, Addison Road Community Centre, Building 36/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville
Tickets: General Admission $48, Concession $38,
Review by Carol Dance