REVIEW: Kym Vaitiekus shares his thoughts on TOY SYMPHONY.

Friday 19th April 6pm 2024, The Loading Dock Theatre, QTOPIA

Hosted by QTOPIA, Queensland's Ad Astra Theatre Company present Michael Gow’s TOY SYMPHONY as The Loading Dock Theatre’s first ever production.

Director Michelle Carey takes on Gow’s awarding winning 2008 Play with an exploration into the machinations of the writer’s block.

Roland Henning (Gregory J Wilken), a renowned playwright, reluctantly seeks the help of a psychologist (Wendi Lanham). Initially resistant, he eventually divulges that his creative paralysis stems from a legal battle over plagiarism in his last play. This revelation leads the psychologist to delve into Roland's past, where his childhood in Como unfolds during the 1960s. Roland possesses a unique ability to summon figures from his imagination into reality, much to the dismay of authority figures who attempted to suppress his creativity.

Despite the discouragement, Roland finds solace in his class teacher, Mrs. Walkham, (Bernadette Pryde) who clandestinely nurtures his imaginative pursuits. Fast forward to high school, where Roland's creative drive emerges in the form of writing a play titled 'Toy Symphony', to uplift his hospitalized friend.

Act One concludes with Roland declaring his abandonment of writing and therapy. Act Two opens with Roland still grappling with his creative block, compounded by personal tragedies like the destruction of his childhood home in bushfires.

Wilken plays the yearning writer with commitment and verve, he portrays the questioning and searching soul that looks for a way out of his dilemma. He strives with a grounded essence that accents Henning's journey. Lanham, as Nina the therapist, holds fort as a knowledgeable counsellor yet her youthful demeanour detracts from the gravitas that comes with a psychologist  layered experience.

Bernadette Pryde is the classic school mum style teacher with her enthusiasm and desire to make her classroom entertaining. 

The ensemble play both young and old characters with a naive exuberance.

Henning brings historic and impactful figures to life as he journeys forward towards healing. The small stage does not allow for dramatic reveals and the power of these manifestations are lost in the down stage side exits and entrances.

It seems that Carey at times is playing for a somewhat comedic portrayal.

The classroom scene is a lampooning of the Como suburb, the historic figures costume are dime store reminiscent, Wilken as a school boy plays the coy youth with twirling feet, the cliche fidgeting of thumbs and the bowed head. The ensemble make use of exaggerated movement and expressions. The audience only laughed a few times, the beats were missing.

The comedic classroom scene had an overhead projector with blurry slides that were too small to decipher. Maybe Gow was creating comedic retribution to his childhood neighbourhood but the scene was laboured and extended beyond it's point.

Henning's journey is an insightful exploration of the writer's dilemma. Portraying Henning's influences through magical realism is an inventive device. 

Wilken nicely executes an earnest and introspective performance.

TOY SYMPHONY runs April 18- 27, 2024

Photography @ Bojan Bozic

CAST

Gregory J Wilken, Wendi Lanham, Felix Jarvis, Bernadette Pryde, Sam Webb, John Michael Narres, Chantal Elyse, Adam Dakin 

CREATIVES AND CREW 

Director Michelle Carey, Producer  Gregory J Wilken, Associate Producer and Social Media Manager Molly Walker, Associate Producer and Tech Tom Pocilujko, Associate Producer and Stage Manager Madelyne Leite, Composer Tommi Civili

TOY SYMPHONY is the premiere production for the new Sydney theatre space that is part of QTOPIA. Presented by Ad Astra, that’s based in Queensland, this theatre company expands interstate giving emerging and re-emerging artists more opportunities to showcase their talents.

This intimate new venue contained within this multipurpose new cultural space is an exciting addition to the Sydney Arts scene. With exhibitions and a vast array of performances this will soon become the place to mingle, be entertained and discover new and current artist’s and their works. In what may be called poetic justice, QTOOPIA is a revitalised building that was the Darlinghurst Police station. A structure synonymous with oppression and violence is now a symbol of strength, independence, honour that our proud community can call home.

QTOPIA has three new venues under its umbrella, The Loading Dock, The Substation, The Toilet Block and The Bandstand.

Qtopia Sydney is a welcoming and inclusive space devoted to the memory, education and celebration of the unique histories and lived experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.

A true cultural hub encompassing four unique locations, we have the largest footprint of any Queer Centre of History and Culture in the world. We are storytellers committed to the core principles of empowerment and inclusivity.