{"id":153375,"date":"2024-01-20T11:54:47","date_gmt":"2024-01-20T01:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=153375"},"modified":"2024-01-20T11:54:47","modified_gmt":"2024-01-20T01:54:47","slug":"seventeen-mtc-theatre-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/seventeen-mtc-theatre-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Seventeen (MTC) – theatre review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you remember what your last day of school was like?\u00a0You\u2019d just finished your final exams and freedom was there for the taking.\u00a0The future was uncertain, but it was one of possibilities.\u00a0Regardless, now was party time.\u00a0These are the thoughts in the minds of the 17-year-olds at the centre of Matthew Whittet\u2019s heartfelt play.\u00a0The twist is the teenagers are played by significantly older men and women \u2013 let\u2019s just call them people of a certain age.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photos by Pia Johnson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Events take place in a playground, where five school leavers have gathered to chill and drink.\u00a0They are joined by the 14-year-old sister of one of them.\u00a0The hang out together and muck around.\u00a0But, more than that, their apprehensions, fears and vulnerabilities are exposed.\u00a0Mike (Richard Piper) is the alpha male in the group. He is loud, confident and belligerent.\u00a0His best mate since the first day of fifth grade is Tom (Robert Menzies).\u00a0He is book smart, but relatively timid. \u00a0He is due to leave for Adelaide with his parents in two days because his father has secured a new job there.<\/p>\n

Mike\u2019s sister Lizzy (Fiona Choi) is the 14-year-old.\u00a0Wise beyond her years, she can see that beneath his gregarious exterior, her brother isn\u2019t happy.\u00a0Mike is set to go to work for their father.\u00a0His girlfriend Jess (Pamela Rabe) is struggling with her alcoholic and needy mother.\u00a0Jess is not sure whether she wants to go to university, but would like to travel the world.\u00a0Her best friend Emilia (Genevieve Picot) regularly suffers nose bleeds and has her own issues.\u00a0And then there is the outsider, Ronny (George Shevtsov), who is known as a weirdo.\u00a0Hiding a dark secret, he wants to be a part of the celebrations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Truth be told, this moment in time \u2013 the next few hours the six spend together \u2013 will never be replicated.\u00a0This is their chance to reveal their innermost feelings and wait for dawn to break.\u00a0Filled with humour and surprises, Seventeen develops poignancy as it progresses.\u00a0It is that evocative transition that elevates this work.\u00a0Having said that, seeing adults of a certain age dress up and act out as school leavers \u2013 often swearing like troopers \u2013 is hilarious.<\/p>\n

There is not a weak link in the cast.\u00a0The actors shine in their respective roles, each with distinctive characterisations \u2013 from loudmouth to angst riddled.\u00a0Ronny\u2019s movements early days are perplexing \u2013 just as they are meant to be \u2013 but George Chevtsov ensures Ronny comes into his own as the narrative develops.\u00a0A full playground set on tanbark brings back fond memories. \u00a0It is the fine endeavour of Christina Smith, who is also responsible for costuming, which, too, has immediate impact.\u00a0Put another way, the introduction of the year 12s is not easily forgotten.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Among other memorable elements in the production are shaking booty and a game of Truth or Dare.\u00a0Director Matt Edgerton plays up the light and shade in the script, giving Seventeen emotional resonance for its 100-minute running time.\u00a0It is on at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until 17th February, 2024.<\/p>\n

Alex First<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you remember what your last day of school was like?\u00a0You\u2019d just finished your final exams and freedom was there for the taking.\u00a0The future was uncertain, but it was one of possibilities.\u00a0Regardless, now was party time.\u00a0These are the thoughts in the minds of the 17-year-olds at the centre of Matthew Whittet\u2019s heartfelt play.\u00a0The twist is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":153376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[801],"tags":[21,3,9728,9725,9727,9724,9264,73,1778,3235,8552,9726,9421,9723],"class_list":["post-153375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theatre","tag-comedy","tag-drama","tag-fiona-choi","tag-genevieve-picot","tag-george-shevtsov","tag-matt-edgerton","tag-matthew-whittet","tag-mtc","tag-pamela-rabe","tag-pathos","tag-poignant","tag-richard-piper","tag-robert-menzies","tag-seventeen"],"yoast_head":"\nSeventeen (MTC) - 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