Six Degrees of Separation Review

Review By Susan Ann Oldknow on TheatrePeople.com.au.

This is a very fine production of an intelligent, thought provoking play by John Guare.

It explores the connections between people, those “six degrees of separation” that are meant to exist between every person on the planet.

What connects a homeless African American youth and a wealthy New York art dealer or a suicide victim and the art dealer’s socialite neighbours?

Why should the art dealer’s wife feel so emotionally connected to a complete stranger?

The role of the African American Paul is played by Caucasian actor Sean Flierl.

Director, Harry Dewar, has chosen not to make Flierl up to look black and, after some initial adjustment, it does not seem to matter.

Flierl is excellent, with a fine understanding of his character’s twisted sense of self and a firm grasp on a script that is complex and challenging.

April Stuart, as Ouisa, is completely charming, delivering rapid fire banter with comic flare and bittersweet emotion with equal brilliance.

Lindsay Dunn, as her art dealing husband, Flan, provides a perfect foil for his wife and has his share of fabulous comic moments and emotional outbursts in another challenging role.

The leads are very ably supported by David Mitchell, Kristofa Cassano, Terry Crowe, Janet Jauncey, Myles Teakle, Amy Klar, Alica Edgely, Joshua Harvey, Scott Allen and Christopher Daw.

Teakle is particularly good as Trent and Cassano is fearless in the full frontal cameo required to shock the characters (and audience) out of their false sense of security.

Dewar’s direction is sensitive and the script is so complex that it could easily have become a quagmire were it not for the fantastic pace of delivery and some excellent staging.

Josh Smart’s staging design is great, with the use of projected images and scrims, although less ambient light behind the scrims before ‘lights up’ would be more effective.

There were a couple of very slight wobbles on opening night but overall the crew are to be commended for supporting a really great production.

The show starts slowly but soon becomes so engrossing, ninety minutes goes by in a flash.

(Be advised that there is no interval and no refreshments available.)

Go and see it. It is worth the trip out to the fabulously comfortable Hopgood Theatre.