I knew Jonathon Blain, the subject of Veronica Nadine Gleeson’s play.

He was a regular visitor to a house I lived in in Adelaide many years ago.

I remember his lovely smile and his soft nature.

Jonathon sold me a landscape painting that he had completed. He bought drugs with the money I gave him. 

He told me about his famous mum. I remember her, grim faced, visiting the house at one time.

I kept Jonathon’s painting for a long time. I gave it up with my last move. The painting has gone.So has Jonathon. Life, regardless, moves on.

It was hard watching TELL ME I’M HERE, especially with this very good, edgy production by Leticia Caceres. The work of the creative team headed by Caceres, and the cast were excellent. In the titular roles Tom Conroy as Jonathon and Nadine Garner as Anne were excellent.

I came into the theatre having had this personal connection to Jonathon and Anne. I left the theatre with two life size, fully realised portraits and an understanding  of their oh so troubled relationship. 

Tom Conroy’s portrayal of Jonathon was searing. His soft nature that I felt all those years ago had disappeared, was decimated by schizophrenia and drug abuse, leaving him not only to be a monster to others but also to himself.  

Nadine Garner was immense as Anne Deveson. The portrait I was left with…What a warrior Anne was.The play showed how hard she had fought for years and years to get her son to a point, a state. of wellness.

And there was another side to Anne Deveson. How remarkable she was. Keeping in mind the constant tug of war battle she had with her son, how did she manage to be so accomplished in her career. She had an extensive career as a broadcaster, writer and filmmaker. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia, an Officer of the Order of Australia and received an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia. A truly brilliant woman who sadly couldn’t save her much loved son.

There was one scene, brilliantly staged, that will stay long in my memory. It was a scene of complete upheaval with papers flying everywhere, tables and chairs upturned. Chaos. The family had come home to see their family room uprooted. Jonathan had ransacked the house.  It was as if a cyclone had been through it.

Cyclone  Jonathon.

Veronica Nadine Gleeson’s play TELL ME I’M HERE adapted for the stage from Anne Deveson’s memoir TELL ME I’M HERE is playing upstairs at Belvoir Street Theatre until the 25th September 2022. Running time 2 hours and 20 minutes including one 20 minute interval.

https://www.belvoir.com.au

Production photography Brett Boardman