Damn Tyran Parke. His cabaret CHILDREN AND ART has disrupted my precious sleeping. Not just because it’s a brilliantly written show interpreted by a charismatic and talented star but because it lingers in the twilight, full appreciation of the complexity just slightly out of reach. As the light fades on the experience of seeing his show, the concepts curl into relief and his colours reach into memory demanding further consideration.
CHILDREN AND ART was developed for the Art Gallery of NSW in 2014. The title refers to the scene in Stephen Sondheim’s SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE where artist George Seurat discusses what it is that he believes that we leave behind after we pass on. Seurat states two things: Children and Art.
Tyran Parke and his 2 brothers are the focus of the story. The three are the children of a creative, photographer mother and an irrepressibly happy father. “My friends thought he was an alcoholic” says Tyran with a cheeky smile. Like their mother who died young, they are all creative and accomplished. But their story is a sad one at heart, though with an affirming ending … at this point. Funny and silly with pathos to spare, sibling love shines through Parke’s writing and storytelling. And he is a wonderful storyteller.
For his role as George, Parke took painting classes and delved into the life of his character, visiting the paintings and walking where George walked and this show has those impressions all over it. Not just in the direct to audience comments or the songs such as ‘Finishing the Hat’ and ‘Putting It All Together’ but in the shape of the show.
Seurat’s Pointillism style where closeup the work is nothing but dots, the shape appearing only at a distance has the light, chromoluminarism, as the most important tool. Every sentence, smile and scat is one of those dots in CHILDREN AND ART. Parke even begins the show offstage, and we hear the song without words.
He hasn’t overdone the art metaphor instead Parke has taken the light that is so important in the viewing of the paintings as his through line. Kudos to the techie who designed the states from the rig leftover from DOGFIGHT as it subtly creates the images to support Parke’s points and moments.
The movement of the dotted light shapes during ‘Schadenfreude’ from AVENUE Q is restrained and allows the artist to shine. ‘Choose Happy’ is fun and busy. ‘Both Sides Now’ shines with a lovely violet colour.
‘Vincent’ is gentle and sweet with a warm blue on the superb Musical Director, Luke Byrne’s white keys. This song is interpreted so richly. Parke simply wafts the words through the audience in a slightly breathy, chest voice which transfixes the audience until “The ragged men in ragged clothes” line when he lifts high up in his range and transports us to the place of Vincent’s pain.
There is so much to appreciate about this show yet, essentially CHILDREN AND ART is a good looking man in a white shirt and, what I must say, is a very nice black suit on a black stage with a dark piano. But Tyran Parke’s writing, directing, singing and storytelling lingers, encouraging the kind of reflection that disturbed my sleep. Damn that boy’s good!
Tyran Parke’s CHILDREN AND ART played the Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Avenue, for two nights only, Wednesday 3rd June and Thursday 4th June.