OBSERVER: Savages at Theatre Works
Patricia Cornelius wrote Savages in 2013 partly in response to the death of Dianne Brimble on a cruise ship in 2002.
The work examines the misogynistic conduct of four men whose aggression, entitlement and ignorance epitomise the worst of the manosphere.
Director Kitan Petkovski has chosen to cast women in these four roles in the current Theatre Works production and, by so doing, has seemingly heightened the stereotypical archetypes associated with Rabbit (Aya Taur), Craze (Laila Thaker), Runt (Nicci Wilks) and George (Zoe Boesen).
As such, what tends to emerge is a litany of grievance where the conduct of men is concerned rather than a reflection on why this conduct is so prevalent.
The characters lose any prospect for development and are fixed in place. This limits the potential for a story arc where the realisation about one’s conduct can hollow out a character.
The dramatic accord between the performers, however, speaks to an affinity of purpose both in the movement (Freya List) and the verse-like nature of the script which has individuals working in unison to respond and interplay with each other physically and linguistically.
This latter feature of the script suggests the characters are versed in their misogyny but also unable to escape it.
Bianca Pardo’s set is simple with deck boards and railings inferring a cruise ship and Harrie Hogan’s lighting creates the appropriate focus when the action moves to pairs or an individual.
Cornelius originally wrote this work for a male cast. Seeing women in these roles might enable men to distance themselves from the necessity of identifying with the conduct, of questioning their actions and bringing about change.
Until September 12 at Theatre Works, St Kilda.
Review by David McLean
Pictured: Zoe Boesen, Aya Taur, Nicci Wilks and Laila Thaker in Savages.
Photo: Pia Johnson