OBSERVER: Away
When you first step into the MUST space at the Monash Clayton Campus, you are met with an overwhelming sense of community, passion, and joy.
And, as the curtain rises for act one of Away, that feeling of excitement and enthusiasm within the cast, crew and company only grows.
Away by Michael Gow is a play about three Australian families on holiday in the 1960s, each dealing with grief, loss, or conflict.
As their stories unfold, they confront personal struggles – Tom’s terminal illness, Coral’s grief for her son, and Gwen’s controlling nature. Through these journeys, the characters experience growth, healing, and acceptance.
The MUST interpretation of Away is well thought out and deeply imagined. The cast breathes life into the characters with ease and each individual actor holds attention in the space beautifully.
Furthermore, their chemistry and connection as a cast is excellent, and each relationship in Gow’s script is delivered expertly by the actors.
The use of sound and lighting to communicate the emotional journey of the characters is greatly moving and impactful.
The work by composer and sound designer Alex Aidt and assistant sound designer Leler Dai to draw focus and prominence toward significant moments in the performance through various motifs and musical scores stood out immensely.
It gave the production a unique edge, and also conveyed just how extensive the crew and production team’s understanding of Micheal Gow’s script is.
Overall, the MUST interpretation of Michael Gow’s Away is thoughtfully crafted and constructed to take the audience on a profound emotional journey that stays with you long after the bows have ended.
Review by Matilda Caughey