Sometimes one just comes across main characters- protagonists I guess is the proper literary phraseology- who are just so annoying and cloying that it wrecks the whole evening.
Sorry but climatologist Daniel in BETWEEN TWO WAVES fits in this category.
He’s such an angst ridden, wimpy character…full of dread for the natural disasters that are going to befall the planet as a result of climate change, that he is in a state of constant paralysis.
His long suffering girlfriend Fiona is pregnant with what would be their first child and the best that Daniel can say to her, ‘You only want a baby because then you’ll have someone to like you without having to fuck them first’.
Here’s another bit of dialogue between Daniel and Fiona:-
Daniel: ‘You can’t create a new human and be in complete denial’.
Fiona: ‘A new human? Who the hell are you? I’m in denial? You’re so obsessed with planning out every moment of your existence you never actually live in any of them’.
Touche Fiona! I agree absolutely. Daniel’s a bit of a sad, not so charming and chivalrous man.
Which brings me to one of my favourite quotations… It’s from the great American author Helen Keller who was born deaf and blind with many more obstacles than our protagonist has to overcome.
Keller wrote, ‘Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing’.
Ian Meadows’s BETWEEN TWO WAVES is a cleverly written play. There’s plenty of snappy, witty dialogue. The subject of climate change is worthy of-course. Sam Strong directs well. The cast perform well, Meadows as Daniel, Ash Ricardo as Fiona, Rachel Gordon as insurance lady Grenelle and Chum Ehelepola as Jimmy. The show features a great special effect.
Still…sorry…the character of Daniel… My God…He really is in need of a big adventure!
The Griffin Theatre Company’s production of Ian Meadows’s BETWEEN TWO WAVES opened at the Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross on Thursday 11th October and plays until Saturday 17th November, 2012.
© David Kary
24th October, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- BETWEEN TWO WAVES, Stables Theatre Kings Cross, Ian Meadows, Sam Strong, Chum Ehelepola, Rachel Gordon, Ian Meadows, Ash Ricardo, Sydney Arts Guide.