Jane Bodie’s new play THIS YEAR’S ASHES invites us into Ellen’s world.

Ellen is a feisty, intelligent, temperamental and attractive late thirties woman, something of a wildcard. With so much going on with her, the question is whether she will end up keeping her head above water or whether she will go under?!

Belinda Bromilow (MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE) revels in playing such a unique, feisty character and gives a memorable performance as Ellen battles a very sticky wicket.

There are many sides to Ellen. We see Ellen getting ‘smashed’ on booze, trashing her apartment and raging around the room with loud rock music pumping up from her gramophone…We see her being cute, pretending to play cricket with her father….We see her bedding down guys and then leaving their homes before they become clingy…We hear her raving on about her love/hate relationship with Sydney (a couple of years ago she traveled up from Melbourne to make a new home in Sydney and is still acclimatizing!), particularly in a very funny speech, ‘I hate frappes. And suntans, Pilates…small gay dogs and cockroaches’.

Ellen’s father Brian is a mild mannered, easy going man in his late fifties. Brian and Ellen have had their issues over the years, but there is plenty of love between them, and they share their love of cricket together. A new Ashes series has commenced, and a lot of their time together is spent glued in front of the television.

Tony Llewelyn-Jones (UNDERBELLY 11) gives a relaxed, engaging performance as Dad Brian. The love and warmth between father and daughter come across well. A highlight is Llewelyn-Jones’s delivery of a very comic long speech making the most out of cricket’s quirky jargon.

The play sees Ellen bed plenty of frogs before she discovers her prince. Nathan Lovejoy (THE PACIFIC) plays all of her suitors. He makes a strong impression, with his tall, thin, gangly physique and supple facial expressions, he makes for a natural comedian.

A very contemporary, perceptive romantic comedy, THIS YEAR’S ASHES makes for a very engaging at the theatre. Bodie hits some huge sixes with her clever use of language and some stand-out speeches. With deft changes and some fleshing out of the script, Bodie’s story may have a bright future on the big screen.

Shannon Murphy’s impressive premiere production of Jane Bodie’s THIS YEAR’S ASHES opened at SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod street, Kings Cross on Wednesday 12th October and plays until Saturday 19th November, 2011.

© David Kary

20th October, 2011

Tags: SBW Stables Theatre, THIS YEAR’S ASHES, Jane Bodie, Shannon Murphy, Belinda Bromilow, Tony Llewelyn-Jones, Nathan Lovejoy, Test cricket, romantic comedy, Brett Boardman