"Trollop" Review

It was too late to include two reviews in my July contribution so have added an early August update to include review of "Trollop" which Mary-Anne and I took in last night.  Here it is for anyone interested.  Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys different theatre and can cope with confrontational theatre.

Trollop Review

We were part of the preview audience of Maxine Mellor’s “Trollop” put on by Queensland Theatre Company last night.   Thankfully we had the opportunity to scan the program while   waiting as such knowledge provided for a greater appreciation  of the developments on stage.   When we were introduced to the four co-directors/designers before the play, it seemed odd to have four “bosses” while only three actors.   This was easily accounted for by the end of the show.

The play centres around an unemployed writer (Clara) who is reluctant to seek other jobs.  She stays at home (her boyfriend Erik’s apartment) all day where she is bombarded by the news of destruction all around.   A large flood has affected the area although leaving her home untouched.   

Erik manages to convince her to write another pop-up children’s book and is happy to oblige when she seconds him into collecting a variety of weird materials that she needs.

The action on stage certainly confronts.   Words and actions seem deliberately chosen to give the “in your face” effect.  Much would have made less sense without the pre-reading, nonetheless, a bit of head scratching was still required.   Perhaps to strategically reflect the “other world” that long term unemployed can find themselves drifting into when surrounded by constant negativity.

It was well past half way in the play before the third actor, Eugiene entered.  When she did, a whole new dimension was added with the inclusion of religion, sex and drugs.  From here it was particularly difficult to discern between “reality” and “fantasy” - the effect of alcohol and pot being indulged in by the characters might have dispersed to the audience - was it sex or salvation being peddled?

The ending mimicked the other parts of the play screaming “what is the point?”   Maybe that was the desired effect.   As a regular season ticket holder over the past few years, I can not count the number of times that I have walked away from shows put on by QTC with the assertion “wow, that was different”.  Certainly this applied to “Trollop”.

In contrast to “1001 Nights”, I am not sure if I “enjoyed” this play.  I certainly was glad that I went.   The stage effects were extraordinary - no wonder four directors/designers were required.  Other aspects might have overshadowed the efforts of the actors who might have performed brilliantly or ordinarily depending on what they were trying to portray.   In keeping with the play overall, I gave up trying to discern what the writer intended to be obvious and what might have been implied.