Review by Markus Hamence – Performance date Tuesday 24 September 2024, Opening Night, Adelaide Festival Centre, SA
Attending The Puzzle, the latest piece from State Theatre Company South Australia at the Adelaide Festival Centre, was a retro swingers fest. From the go, it promised to be an enigmatic, hilarious-driven piece, and it certainly delivered on that front. A mix of angst comedy & drama and puzzle solving, this play manages to keep the audience on their toes, piecing together its tangled sexual narrative one revelation at a time. As the name suggests, this play is all about piecing things together – both literally and metaphorically.
A Puzzle That Reveals…
The play, written by accomplished David Williamson and directed with the keen eye of Shannon Rush, kicks off on board a ‘Lifestyle’ cruise with naive Drew (Erik Thomson) & flirtatious Mandy (Ansuya Nathan) connecting over a 1000 piece jig-saw puzzle – the said which is cleverly projected onto a screen at the back of the stage and we slowly see it come together.
It’s a romping theatrical play that delves into relationships of a few kinds. It’s a very rewarding couple of hours.
The story centres around two couples looking for something more sexually appealing and exploring ideas outside of their monogomous relationships. That unravels quickly into many funny & sticky (no pun intended) moments. What begins as a these couple desiring some cheeky no-strings-attached bedroom antics shifts briskly as characters confront unresolved tensions and personal revelations.
What makes The Puzzle so fascinating is how it layers its themes of jealousy, inadequacy, insecurity and new beginnings through sharp dialogue and comedic pacing. You feel like you’re sitting right at the next table with these characters, sensing their awkwardness and knowing full-well it won’t end well.
A Cast in Perfect Sync
The cast is where this production really shines. Each actor brings incredible talent and BIG energy to their role, delivering performances that are both subtle, quirky and memorable. The chemistry between the ensemble is magic. Whether it’s a charged glance across the table or a dramatic outburst, every interaction feels meticulously choreographed yet entirely organic.
Nathan O’Keefe (Craig) & Ansuya Nathan (Mandy) as couple number one, are exceptional. Nathan gives me subtle hints of Roland Schitt (Schitts Creek) vibes. He is extremely well timed. One of the moments of his brilliance was improvisation. After cheersing a glass, his lime fell out onto the floor, quick as a flash and not skipping a beat, Nathan scooped up that lime and ate it. Kudos to the rest of the cast for keeping their composure. Ansuya, equally is talent full. Quite apprehensive in the idea of ‘Swinging’, she portrays this with unsure perfection as ‘Mandy’ feels quite uneasy about the whole experience.
Couple two, Chris Asimos (Brian) and Anna Lindner (Michele), have got the chops. Chris swaggers around the stage as ‘Brian’ with a fabulous confident bravado which fast unravels after ‘the night’. Couple with his shirtless scene, Chris is engaging. I last saw Chris in Holden Street Theatres ‘Looped’, his diversity in roles he can play displays his finely honed skills. Anna is freakin’ funny. Her character is a total nutter and I adore her. Fabulous, over the top and centre of attention – I couldn’t get enough of her stage time. I’m very much looking forward to seeing Anna in more work soon.
Then we have the father and daughter characters. Erik Thomson as straight-laced Drew and Ahunim Abebe as the polyamorous and carefree Cassie, are a joy to watch as ‘Cassie’ continues to shudder the mind of her father with her sexual revelations. Erik (Packed To The Rafters) is great, my first time seeing on stage, Thompson has star power. He’s obviously comfortable on the stage and his innocent charm with his character is endearing. Ahunim flits and flirts across the stage wonderfully and brings a youthful vibrance to the eclectic cast.
Stunning Set Design and Lighting
Visually, The Puzzle is a triumph. The set is glorious, designed by Ailsa Paterson, the 70’s retro vibe is aesthetically fabulous, a bar, a deck, a recreation area (where the previously mentioned jig-saw puzzled takes centre stage) and a couple of bedroom fill out the ample stage with heavy attention to detail. It’s a joy to walk into the theatre and see this visual feast laid out before us. Bravo.
The Music
Composer Andrew Howard has put together a pulsating 70’s/80’s porn inspired beat to take us from scene to scene. It set the naughty, mischevious tone and I have the music still swirling in my head.
Wrap-up: A Worthwhile Theatre Experience
The Puzzle is a fun and well directed piece of theatre that challenges its audience to think explore the ideas of relationship. It’s a play that is intended to be light-hearted while showcasing our choices lead us to find our answers that we are trying to fit together in our bumpy relationships. With its talented cast, smart writing, and compelling design, it’s a performance that fans of frivolity should not miss.
The overall production is a testament to the strength of South Australia’s theatre scene and the bold storytelling choices that State Theatre Company South Australia continues to champion. If you’re looking for a play that will keep you rollicking along and spark conversations long after you’ve left the theatre, The Puzzle is well worth your time.
FIVE STARS!
State Theatre Company South Australia presents:
The Puzzle
By David Williamson
20 Sep — 12 Oct 2024
Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Tickets
Photography credit Matt Byrne
