OBSERVER: Storked
The inventive theatricality of writer and performer, Myf Hocking’s, Storked, shows a creativity and awareness of stage craft with projections (Lara Gabor) and scenes behind a scrim (Viv Hargreaves) suggesting how simple techniques bring about a powerful dramatic effect. Maude Davey’s direction would also be instrumental in this.
What is hard to reconcile is the multitude of styles and amorphous subject matter in Hocking’s chronicle of scenes.
The work is primarily a series of sketches highlighting the challenges associated with sexual identity, problematic medical diagnosis, social and cultural attitudes regarding sexuality, and the myriad pressures facing the binary and non-binary regarding having children and maintaining relationships.
The cast are confident and gregarious in their performances (Milo Hartill, Myf Hocking, Kikki Temple, Teo Vergara, Elliot Wood) with the nature of the piece requiring them to take on a multitude of roles in a range of styles. Realism, comedy, absurdity all collide requiring the cast There are times when the subject matter and performance style don’t meet with the congruity needed for best effect.
The ridiculousness about negotiating a sexual encounter can become a polemic about being physically compromised which leads to confusion about the ultimate point being made.
The series of sketches also do not provide a consistent narrative ultimately leaving the audience wondering where the work is heading. There are countless stories in the scenarios and vignettes offered all of which would be worth exploring but the wrenching between forms, style and subject matter is disquieting. And at just on two hours long, the work is relentless.
Antipodes Theatre Company at Theatre Works.
Review by David McLean
Pict\ured: From left: Kiki Temple, Myf Hocking, Teo Vergara Elliot Wood and Milo Hartill in Storked.