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Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Tale of love in old age

[box]THEATRE
“Lawrie and Shirley”
By Geoff Page, The Street Theatre, until October 23.
Reviewed by Simone Penkethman [/box]

TWO of Canberra’s respected elders of the arts, Chrissie Shaw and Geoff Page have combined their might with younger artists to present a delicate, rich and pleasing tale of love in old age.

There are clear villains and heroes and human frailty is gently examined across two generations and two families.

“Lawrie and Shirley” is essentially a one-woman show in which performer, Chrissie Shaw, narrates an adapted version of Geoff Page’s novel of the same name.

Shaw is joined by violinist Ewan Foster, augmented by some recorded tracks and effects.

Imogen Keen’s set and costume design is simple elegant and highly effective.

She dresses Shaw as an enthusiastic film maker in a blonde wig and leather jacket.

An animated Shaw pitches the story to the audience in the first person plural as if it was a screenplay or film treatment.

To add to an already layered stylistic mix, the story is told in verse with strict meter and rhyme, at times recalling the fables of Dr Seuss.

The text is humorous and full of cultural references to music, history and to Canberra, where it is set.

However, its density and strict meter are occasionally challenging to the performer and the audience.

There are moments of great energy, excitement and connection – moments that will no doubt grow in strength and frequency as the season continues.

“Lawrie and Shirley” is billed as “A Poem, a Movie, a Play” and shows us that ultimately, a story is a story is a story.

The well cast Chrissie Shaw is a formidable actor and musician and most of all, an excellent storyteller.

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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