Director’s Louise Fischer play is an energetic but chaotic production of DBC Pierre’s much loved novel, VERNON GOD LITTLE.
The aftermath of a (very topical) high school massacre is the weighty subject matter of this story. Unfortunately, much of the play parodies the characters, mores and lives of The South. Individually the parodies can be amusing but the overall impact of the parodies, screaming and shouting, and the frenetic activity on stage is overwhelming. Allowing the characters to display their innate foibles without caricature would have been more effective.
Tom Bannerman has constructed a striking set which is well used in the production. There is a very attractive movable structure used as a bus, car and a chair.
The play opens with a brief rendition of “Duelling Banjos” to let us know we are in backward and bigoted southern USA. We soon here the chilling gunshots of the high school massacre and Vernon’s troubles begin.
Luke Willing gives a great performance in the major role of Vernon. In the quieter moments of the evening he displays tenderness, insight and humour and only occasionally gets caught up in the confusing and helter-skelter side of the play.
The assailant in the massacre is Jesus (simply and movingly played by Stefan Giminez), who spends most of the play as a silent ghost, and guide to Vernon. This is one of the better functioning aspects of the evening. Jesus has committed suicide and, as Vernon was his friend and collected Jesus’s bag, the town wants to make Vernon the scapegoat and charge him as an accessory.
We meet a host of characters in rapid succession. Vernon’s Mom (Emma Louise) is a car crash of poor white trash. She is conned by the Machiavellian reporter Lally, well played with distasteful charm by Steve Corner. He is more interested in getting on national TV than telling a truthful story.
Mom’s friend Pam (Claudia Barrie) is in some ways a better mother to Vernon than his real Mom. Brad (Tom Gilmour) does a great job establishing the chemistry with Vernon that you would expect between two teenage boys. The attractive Olivia Dodds channels the Kardashians in her role as Taylor.
Julia Rorke captures Ella in all her annoyances but also her intrinsic generosity of spirit. Garreth Cruickshank as Dr Goosens is appropriately vile. Other cast members are Claudia Barrie, Andrea Blight, Dereck Cameron, Lara Dignam, Adam Hatzimonolis, and Dave Kirkham.
There is plenty of music and dancing in this production. There is both recorded music and music played live on stage, and the country and gospel songs are well chosen and add to the atmosphere. There is some lovely singing, both a Capella and with simple guitar accompaniment.
The second act is pleasingly less noisy and chaotic. The play follows a more traditional format, is much stronger, and relies on dialogue to present the tone and story.
Louise Fletcher’s production of VERNON GOD LITTLE opened at The New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, on Thursday 16th August and runs until Saturday 15th September, 2012.
© Mark Pigott
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- VERNON GOD LITTLE, New Theatre Newtown, Louise Fletcher, OBC Pierre, Tom Bannerman, Luke Willing, Steve Giminez, Emma Louise, Steve Corner, Claudia Barrie, Tom Gilmour, Julia Rorke, Garreth Cruikshank, Claudia Barrie, Andrea Blight, Dereck Cameron, Lara Dignam, Adam Hatzimonolis, Dave Kirkham, Sydney Arts Guide, Mark Pigott.