Comments on: Thyestes | Sydney Festival & Carriageworks

By: Benito

Benito — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:31:37 +0000

If I were to correct anything in this review it would be that I would ‘ferment’ the pasta in the sauce whilst still on heat rather than pour over it.

So where did you say those props and people go betwixt Scenes Gus?

By: Keith Gow

Keith Gow — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:35:13 +0000

Well, he IS a part of the establishment now, so choosing to re-mount the work is very exciting.

By: Augusta Supple

Augusta Supple — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:17:21 +0000

Hi Keith –

Always happy to answer your questions.

RE: Penises – a few giggles/sniffles at penises and dildos – some very surprised faces… but there is a reaction to penises which always trigger fascination – whether or not it is acknowledged.

RE: Simon Stone’s Belvoir Position – well I got this wrong – it’s now corrected in the response. Stone is actually the Resident Director at Belvoir – the Associate Director is Eamon Flack. An egregious mistake on my part. I don’t know when he became Resident – wikipedia says it happened in 2011 – but the Melbourne uni alumni mag says July 2010 – So the answer is I don’t know. BUT the choice to re-mount this work- especially in his new context is very adventurous and brave. But he IS a part of the establishment. (Which can be contrasted to Kosky’s early work in garages and site specific Melbourne places). Even the placement of that show’s development, housed in the Malthouse is a part of the establishment – so either way – I think it’s an interesting artistic comment and context.

As a mostly-vegetarian (mainly to avoid running the risk of inadvertently eating my own kin) I haven’t had meatballs for a while – but who could go past Jenn’s description?

Thanks again for writing in Keith!

By: Keith Gow

Keith Gow — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:23:10 +0000

I mean, I *wouldn’t* have said they were part of the establishment – but maybe Stone was. A bit rusty on the theatre machinations in Sydney, which I really need to change.

By: Keith Gow

Keith Gow — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:21:08 +0000

Okay, so I re-read this because I knew there was a couple of questions I needed to ask:

– was there really giggling at penises in your audience? Because, from memory, when the penises came out (LOL), I thought the situation was too dramatic for giggling
– when did Simon Stone become Belvoir’s Assoc Director? Because when this piece was devised at the Malthouse by the Hayloft Project, I would have said they were part of the “establishment”, though were on their way

And I think I’m far enough away from having seen the spaghetti and meatball scene to actually try that recipe now 😉

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:02:56 +0000

I love the idea of “Mix in 2 cloves garlic, and cook 1 minute” as the show’s tagline.

By: Jane

Jane — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:43:38 +0000

So many quotes for the posters:

“woah, this could make me paranoid”

“So, there’s lots to snigger at in the theatre. Penises often get a good giggle.”

“no women were exploited in the making of this piece of theatre”

“Mix in 2 cloves garlic, and cook 1 minute.”

Brilliant work.

By: Augusta Supple

Augusta Supple — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:39:47 +0000

Hey Stephen,
Glad you enjoyed the review. It’s the culmination of over 30 years of research and thinking about art and ancient Greek characters.
I also read the Director’s notes. Did you know that grapefruits are an intergral part of theatre-making? I didn’t, but I do now.
If Thyestes ever appears in Adelaide, I recommend you see it. It is brilliant.
best regards,
Augusta

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:31:51 +0000

Loved it. It’s got everything in it, including a great byline for the company.

“-this show may just haunt you for a lifetime.”

I want to see that show.

Thanks for the review, and to Jane (http://noplain.wordpress.com/) for putting me on to it.