MEDIA & REVIEWS

HOROVITZ'S "LINE" AND "ACROBATS"
By David Martin, E On Stage Jan 29th
(Belvoir St Downstairs Surry Hills - Jan 28 - review by David Martin)

Fringe theatre in Sydney is starting 2004 positively with two provocative works by American playwright Israel Horovitz Downstairs at Belvoir Street.

While Acrobats is at firs t glance a journey through a well-choreographed dance routine - it is also much more. Russell Smith and Fiona Jurd are vibrant and enthralling as a married couple dancing in public.

Through their dance and conversation we learn of the intimacies of their relationship and their hopes and aspirations as individuals and as a deteriorating couple.

There are some touching moments where the dancers' physical dependency is explored, paralleling their emotional dependency. This is interspersed with comic moments anyone who has been part of a couple would understand.

Ultimately Acrobats challenges the audience by the notion of whether what we long for is really what we really want or need.

The Line is an absurdly satirical and entertaining play dealing with the human need to be first at all costs. There are a wonderful array of characters with all the frailties and weirdness imaginable.

We initially meet the football fan and Tina Turner devotee Flemming (Matthew Sutherland), who has queued all night to be first in line. He is joined by the tortured Mozart lover Steven (Nicholas Moodie), the promiscuous Molly (Jacqueline Archer), her nerdish husband Arnall (Blair Tumeth) and Dolan the thug (Cameron Mayo).
The action revolves around the manipulations these assorted personalities undertake to push the others out of the prized first place in the line. They employ physical and emotional violence, sexual allure and bigotry.
The casts in both plays are young and dynamic. The minimalist set, intelligently chosen and well-placed music add to director Vincent Simon's very physical interpretation of Israel Horovitz's plays.

Jan 28 2004 - review by David Martin:
”Russell Smith and Fiona Jurd are vibrant and enthralling as a married couple dancing in public”

”The Line is an absurdly satirical and entertaining play dealing with the human need to be first at all costs. There are a wonderful array of characters with all the frailties and weirdness imaginable”
”The casts in both plays are young and dynamic.”

Theatre Review – Elizabeth Bentley, Drum Media, Feb 3 2004:
“It’s a knee-slapping hour of absurdist theatre that will have you chortling long after the performance is over.”

“The Line… is terrific fun and always unexpected. You don’t have to like theatre to like The Line – which is probably the highest compliment I can pay.”

“The script is tight and the actors resist the temptation to play for laughs, which makes it all the funnier.”

Chelsea Clarke’s 3rd top pick in “What’s On in Sydney”, Weekend Confidential, Daily Telegraph Jan 31st.

AUDIENCE REVIEWS:
It was totally fabulous. It's really funny, brilliantly written, awesome acting, very cute young men and one gorgeous chick. Seriously worth getting along to at the Belvoir St Theatre. Cath and I couldn't stop laughing (so as you can imagine it was pretty loud in there!) and we just loved every second.
Well truth be told, its two plays and both are well worth seeing! The first one on is called Acrobats and two very good looking people perform incredible acrobatics whilst having an argument! Really great stuff, has to be seen to be believed! The next one is called "The Line" and it really is fab. A great script, great players and really well directed and choreographed. Its very very funny, and a really strong engaging production. Just four fellas and a chick executing a unique and very entertaining idea! You'll love it!
- Jodie Young

We went to the opening performance of "The Line" last night at the Belvoir Theatre in Surry Hills and thought it was a terrific bit of theatre.
"Sexy, funny,energetic, pacy and all in a very intimate venue. Plus Jackie's in it and well..what other reason do you need to go?"
I highly recommend it especially if you would rather not be home knitting yourself a new life and watching TV/the kids/the spouse/the partner...
Get in line.
- Sherwin Klass

Truly, madly, deeply LOVED IT!
You'll laugh, you'll cry (especially when the foot connects with the groin) and you'll beg for more ... GO SEE IT!
- Robyn Hills

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