Writer Eva de Jong Duldig has been greatly inspired by her parents’ story. Her parents, sculptor Karl Duldig and painter/inventor (of the folding umbrella) Slawa Horowitz- Duldig, were both artists, originally from Poland, who then moved to Vienna. They then had to flee Vienna as the Nazis approached. They spent time in Singapore and then migrated to Australia where they were finally able to settle and then resume their creative lives.
After they had both passed on, Eva’s love and respect for her parents led to her transforming their home, exactly as it was, into a public museum and art gallery, the Duldig Studio – Museum and Sculpture Garden. Visitors are able to see the many sculptures and paintings and browse through the many documents and letters.
Eva’s next big project, on this journey, was to write the highly acclaimed family memoir ‘Driftwood – Escape and survival through Art’ was published in 2017, more than four decades after her mother passed away.
Eva’s daughter Tania has followed in her mum’s footsteps, and sought to give this story of lives lived through the arts a larger audience by coming up with the concept of writing a musical based on her mum’s memoir.
The result, after six years work, is DRIFTWOOD THE MUSICAL, with the book by Jane Bodie (she wrote the original play which the musical is adapted from) and Gary Abraham and music and lyrics by Anthony Barnhill.
I saw the show on Thursday night. Directed by Gary Abraham, the show was beautifully presented, with a small orchestra stage right with pianist and Musical Director David Gardos, violinist Michele O’Young and cellist Rachel Valentine.
Jacob Battista’s set was very impressive, finely detailed with sculptures, ornaments and period furniture. Above the stage was a screen for AV Designer Justin Gardam’s to put up stills and images from the De-Jong archives. Marcello La Ricco’s soundscape, Harrie Hogan’s lighting design, Kim Bishop’s period costume design and Sophie Loughran’s choreography worked well.
All the performances were good. Bridget Costello plays Eva who is the narrator and observer as we see her parent’s story unfold.
Tania de Jong AM plays Eva’s mother Slawa de Jong and Anton Berezin plays her father Karl who has a very special, caring relationship with her daughter.
Michaela Burger is Slawa’s sister Rella. The two sisters have a close relationship and it is Rella who, with her husband, Marcel lives in Paris, and manages to get their furniture and artworks out of the family home in Vienna and transported to Slawa’s new home in Melbourne.
Nelson Gardner plays Rella’s husband Marcel and a few other minor characters.
The show’s song list comprised over twenty narrative driven songs, well sung by the cast.
This was a resonant, poignant production, illuminating how creative pursuits can play such an important part in our lives and are akin to spiritual experiences.
Whether the show leads on to bigger things only time will tell.
DRIFTWOOD THE MUSICAL is playing the Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst until the 18th June 2023.
TICKETS – https://www.darlinghursttheatre.com/driftwood