As the lights fade up onto sequined curtains and Jet's Are You Gonna Be My Girl starts playing, Strangers In Between seems to date itself from the outset. The story of a young country bumpkin moving to the big city of Sydney to discover himself, this appears, at first glance, to be a story that's been told many times before.
The action centres on Shane, who moves to Sydney with no money, no friends, and no clue what he's doing. Overly friendly and awkward at the same time, actor Wil King captures the young adult motif that Shane and countless before him have endured. Coming to terms with his own sexuality, Shane finds friends and solace at the polar opposites of homosexuality. One in the cool, young, party boy Will (beautifully portrayed by Guy Simon), and another in the soft and caring 50-something Peter. The latter is played by the phenomenal Simon Burke - who steps into Peter's shoe as if they were tailor-made for him. Flamboyant and hilariously over the top at times, Burke proves once again just how versatile a performer he is.
With just a bathtub as the stage setting and only three cast members, the piece relies heavily on a minimalistic tone. Perhaps this is to offset what initially comes across as stereotypical characterisations, but nonetheless, it is a surprisingly dynamic use of space. Having said this, there are multiple problems with blocking and actor placement, as segments of the rounded audience are often cut off from pivotal points of action.
While at first it feels like there are problems with the characters and what they represent, a gradual and harrowing descent is occurring right under the theatregoers' noses. The revelations and realisations that Strangers In Between throws out are steady and ongoing, and yet they feel like sudden pangs of heartbreaking clarity. Almost one at a time, the audience begins to realise exactly what is going on, and why these characters behave how they do. Somehow it's like drowning in quicksand and being hit by a bus all at the same time, and yet, it still manages to be funny as hell.
What truly stands out in Strangers In Between is how believably unbelievable it can be. Playwright Tommy Murphy is able to make the standard patois of his characters sound like Oscar Wilde quotes while remaining largely accessible. It must be said, however, that this is not a universal story or one that can translate to a hetero-normative tale. It's the unique tribulations of a modern, homosexual experience, relatable in its emotional candour yet anchored to a culturally specific viewpoint that not everyone will immediately connect with.
Staging theatre in unconventional spaces inevitably becomes about problem-solving, and this production of Strangers In Between suffers from moments where the action feels awkward or constrained in this basement venue. But in no way is this due to the story or its performers. It's a wonderfully funny and beautiful drawn narrative that pulls the audience right back in.
Cameron Lukey & Don’t Be Down Productions present Strangers In Between at Fortyfivedownstairs till 11 Feb, and The Seymour Centre from 14 Feb.
