There is a lot to enjoy about this high energy play, created & directed by Roslyn Oades.

As the audience enters they are greeted by the sounds of speed balls, punching bags and shuffling feet & the smell of heat cream as performers are sparring and training in a boxing gym.

The actors are relaying verbatim actual recordings of boxers and trainers, including stammers, grunts & coughs. This brings a wonderful sense of immediacy and a feeling that you are involved in the world of professional boxing.

The dialogue, which is mostly delivered as short soliloquies, is absolutely fascinating and has been well chosen by Roslyn Oades. The young boxers, played by Michael Mohammed Ahmad and John Shrimpton, are obviously excited and very proud of their boxing but they don’t quite have the words to express their passion. Nevertheless, their passion is apparent and the language is engaging.

The insightful dialogue of the older characters has a relaxed world weariness. Billy McPherson’s character laments that he led his life the wrong way around. He gave up drinking & smoking when he retired from boxing. Justin Rosniak’s mumbling & spluttering forces your attention on his stories of near greatness. John Shrimpton impressively switches character and relays the hilarious stories of a trainer of Maori background. Similarly, Katia Molino convincingly plays multiple characters. Her moving portrayal of the Thai trainer explores another aspect of the world of boxing.

There is lots of humour in this play and it could easily have been constructed as a parody or just as easily as a play about struggle and achieving. The numerous engaging features of this play include the genuine feelings, the authentic language and the actual events but as it is all relayed recordings you could expect this genuineness. That is has been so well edited & performed is the strength of this play.

Bob Scott’s sound design and Neil Simpson’s lighting adds to entertainment.

I highly recommend I’m Your Man.

I’M YOUR MAN opened downstairs at the Belvoir Street on Saturday 14th January and runs until Sunday 5th February, 2012.

© Mark Pigott

19th January, 2012

Tags: SYDNEY THEATRE REVIEWS-I’M YOUR MAN, ROSLYN OADES, DOWNSTAIRS BELVOIR STREET, BILLY MCPHERSON, JUSTIN ROSNIAK, JOHN SHRIMPTON, KATIA MOLINO, HEIDRUN LOHR.