This year has been one of the best years for Belvoir Street Theare’s B Sharp program. Every one of the shows has had something to offer, mostly leaning to heavier kinds of dramas. It was great to see the B Sharp program end on a madcap, fun note with Patrick Brammall and John Leary’s play, ‘Vital Organs’, a comic view of the history of modern medicine. The play, directed by Matt Whittet, was the result of the commission the duo received from winning the 2006 Philip Parson’s Young Playwright’s Award.
‘Vital Organs’ started on a funny, clever note. John Leary as Peter was intent on getting the show going in the most entertaining, theatrical way he knew, however his colleague Jack, played by Patrick Brammall, had other plans. He was feeling chronic pain, and at the start of the show he decided that he would operate on himself in front of the audience with a simple scalpel, and without anesthetic. Fortunately, Peter managed to talk Jack out of such drastic action. For one thing he advised that Patrick may not live through the experience! He got Jack to focus on the show that they were presenting! This was all scripted of-course, but it was fun stuff any way!
The highlight of ‘Vital Organs’ was an audience interaction skit that took place about half-way through the show. The skit saw Peter make Jack pretend to perform three bodily functions behind the back-stage curtain. First he had to urinate into a specimen jar, then he had to have a crap, and then he had to masturbate into a jar. The thing was that Jack gave each of the specimens to different audience members sitting in the front row. Then when the specimens were finally returned, Peter mixed all the specimens together into the one flask much to the surprise and horror of the audience.
The winning component of ‘Vital Organs’ was the infectious charm and playfulness of the two performers. John Leary was a livewire as Peter, full of energy, and driving the show on. Patrick Brammall played off his boyish looks, and reveled in playing the slightly kooky, wacky Jack.
16th December 2007