A sharp, punchy, relevant night of theatre awaits you if you go and see MAGGIE STONE, the new production by the Darlinghurst Theatre Company.  

Meet Maggie Stone. She is a rude, prickly, fifty something loans officer. After refusing a loan to a Sudanese immigrant in dire need, she learns of his desperate actions and starts helping the family he leaves behind after he dies (the inference is suicide). The family has to contend with a ruthless pawnbroker/creditor who is demanding full payment even though he is aware of their appalling circumstances. Even with Maggie’s help will the family survive?!

This is the second time that Caleb Lewis’ play has been produced. Lewis wrote the play some eight years ago and has fine-tuned it a little for its current season. Sandra Eldridge’s well directed, tight production plays straight through for one hour and twenty minutes.

Sallyanne Facer’s set is minimalistic with a  sofa and a table and chairs. The play changes locations often with an LED display unit used to orientate audiences. David Bergman’s soundscape is edgy with some brooding music mixed with some African music in the bridging music between scenes. Matt Cox’s lighting design has the players well lit and features some good moments.

In the lead, title role Eliza Logan gives a well rounded, empathetic performance as a tough woman who taps into the compassionate part within her. Maggie has to rise above her stereotyping and racist attitudes. This journey starts from the very first scene in her office when she assumes that Mr Deng who appears in her office is the office cleaner rather than a client. Maggie comes a long way from the opening scene where she says to Mr Deng ‘go out and mug someone, isn’t that what you people do.’

Thuso Lekwape gives fine performances in two roles, playing both Mr Deng and his son Benny. Both are strong portrayals; Mr Deng, a desperate family man seeing his life falling apart, and Benny Deng, an impulsive, raw, uncouth teenager who looks like he is headed for a life of crime.

Brenden Christine is good as his distraught mother Amath who is just trying to keep her above water. She is at breaking point with her son. As she tells Maggie at one point, ‘if you see my son, you can  beat him up from me.’ Christine communicates well her character’s unsureness about the big shift that takes place in Maggie when she starts to help her and is not clear how to respond and relate to her.

Anna Lee plays Georgina, Amath’s rather snobby neighbour who is also helpful to Amath but only when it means not going out of her way. This is shown when her and husband don’t offer Benny a job in their carwash business even though they easily could. Lee’s character gives a bit of lightness and humour to what is essentially a dark and confronting and provocative play.

Kate Bookallil’s main role, which she plays well, is as a tense, hard working Syrian shopkeeper who is constantly being harassed by Benny Deng. Bookallil also has a small role as a medic.

Alan Dukes is suitably shabby and vile as pawnbroker Leo who puts terrible pressure on the Deng family. Dukes plays the villain role well.

Summing up, this was a good production of a very relevant play, as we continue to see the struggles of the disenfranchised in society, and the gap between the rich and the poor widen.

You would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this production. Recommended, MAGGIE STONE is playing the Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst until the 21st October, 2018.

Featured image – Eliza Logan, Branden Christine and Anna Lee in MAGGIE STONE. Pic by Robert Catto

www.darlinghursttheatre.com