HUMAN ACTIVITY is a collaboration between bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company and Nautanki Theatre. bAKEHOUSE performances are at the Kings Cross Theatre on Broadway, in Ultimo. Nautanki is a Parramatta-based company that has been producing for over a decade. Its presentations of the play will be at the Riverside Theatre. This collaboration between the two theatre companies is to be applauded. More productions should be available to both sides of the city.
What is the HUMAN ACTIVITY of the play’s title? The play is set in central Sydney during the siege of the Lindt Café in Martin Place in 2014. The area is crowded with police, street vendors, tourists and people bringing flowers for the ‘grieving platform’ set up for the two people killed by the terrorist. There are a series of characters portraying the way people react to the crisis. The play opens with a homeless woman helping a woman who has been robbed of all her money. The money was to pay for an abortion she is keeping secret from her husband. Because of the siege, the homeless woman has been moved away from Martin Place to Angel Place.
Later, an elderly couple arrive in Sydney searching for their daughter who has left her violent husband. They know she is someplace in the city. Is the homeless woman the daughter they are looking for? Is she their daughter, or a representative of all the lost people?
The woman seeking an abortion has been robbed by a gang of teenagers. The teens later attempt to use the money to buy all the flowers from the flower seller. Suspecting them of having stolen the money, she refuses to sell them her flowers. Meanwhile the strident “I’m-in-charge” security guard is trying to keep things orderly in the crowded Martin Place. In the midst of all this, there are wonderfully portrayed bobbing and pecking birds that observe the frenetic comings and goings. One of these birds, probably an Ibis, closes the play with a short comment on all this ‘human activity’.
The audience is told that it took ten years for this 85-minute play to be developed. It is complex, sometimes amusing, sometimes overwrought and overacted. The fast-pace is contrasted with the slow and quiet conversations between the old man and old woman. These peaceful moments are a respite from the play’s racing style. The balance between these quiet scenes and the frenetic scenes seems just right.
There is obscure symbolism in the play that is difficult to pin down. There is an emphasis on the rope handle of the old couple’s suitcase. Is the emphasis on the rope handle important? Is it a personification of their many and long efforts to find their daughter? And, for example, one of the mourners carries a large briefcase which he bangs loudly on the floor. Is this a symbol? There is room for many speculations about the meanings of many parts of this complex play.
If you aren’t familiar with Sydney’s Martin Place and Angel Place, it might take a bit longer to understand the play’s orientations. The birdcages hanging from the stage ceiling wouldn’t have much meaning for an audience member who has never been to Angel Place and seen this bird cage street installation. The cages are nonetheless a wonderful set up for the birds observing the activities unfolding around them.
Perhaps this play tries to do too much and ends up with loose ends. But HUMAN ACTIVITY is worth seeing for its innovative stagecraft, fine acting, and the thoroughly engaging theatre space. The Kings Cross Theatre on Broadway is a small space with raked seating for about 70. There are four stage entry-exit points and great acoustics – perfect for minimalist style theatre.
There are ten actors. Katherine Shearer plays the homeless woman and has the most opportunity to demonstrate acting skills. She is excellent. The co-producers are Neel Banerjee of Nautanki Theatre and John Harrison of bAKEHOUSE Theatre. The director is Suzanne Millar. The playwright is Katie Pollock.
HUMAN ACTIVITY plays at KXT on Broadway from September 15-30 (ticket $35-$45 ); then at Riverside Theatres Parramatta from October 5-8 (tickets from $25).
Featured image: Phil Lye and Claudtte Clark in HUMAN ACTIVITY Pic David Hooley