One of the most creative and mind challenging works I have seen, Phantasmagoria revisits the past in order for the central character to move forward. Briony (played by Bernadette Trench-Thiedeman, Meg Dunn and Elnaz Shessgelani) is an artist – a woman whose difficult personal relationships as an adult have been informed by her upbringing. That has everything to do with her Sri Lankan father, who was born in 1920 and fought in the war, which brutalised him. Then he migrated.
It has now been many years since he passed and yet his memory lives on, even though he was violent towards his wife (Briony’s mother) and used to drink. So, much so, that Briony’s mum had to steal away with Briony in the middle of the night to get away from him. Briony seeks out a medium in order to try to get back in touch with her father, so that she can understand why he did what he did.
Her dad had told her not to trust anyone. Since he passed, he has been watching her and is proud of who she has become. Briony wants him to apologise to her mother and that he does as the play moves back and forth in time, moving through generations, unearthing family secrets.
Phantasmagoria is a complex work that requires concentration to follow and get the most out of. Emotionally dense, it has an absurd, magical, haunting, surreal and esoteric quality about it. To be frank, at times it is downright weird. So many different mediums are at play here – performance, puppetry, photography and animation, to name but four.
Ghosts is a prevailing theme. Old grief, new grief, anxiety and malevolence are represented. Visions appear in large insect and stick like form. You never know what will next appear on stage. I was particularly impressed by the intensity in Trench-Thiedeman’s performance. She displays strength and vulnerability as a woman trying to come to terms with her past.
She was also the writer and creator of the work, the ideas for which emerged over many years. Phantasmagoria is anything but conventional fare. It doesn’t follow a traditional narrative arc. That is not how it was conceived, nor how it has been executed. As such, while there is much to admire about it, the piece is one for selective tastes. Phantasmagoria is playing at Theatre Works until 12th March, 2022.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- When the Rain Stops Falling (Theatre Works) – theatre review
- Autocannibal (Theatre Works)
- Every Lovely Terrible Thing (Theatre Works) – theatre review
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
