CATERPILLAR EYEBROW ARCH – ⭐⭐⭐
The Dramatic Premise
Sunday Reed (Nikki Shiels), along with her husband, John (Matt Day), are patrons of the arts. They see life, itself, in painted works. Action. Pathos. Life. They can distinguish good art from bad art; the exalted from the derivative.
And they are full of passion.
Passion for each other. Passion for building an artistic circle in Heide, Victoria. And passion for the mere sake of passion.
That’s when a young Sidney Nolan (James O’Connell) enters their lives.
Photo Credit – STC / Prudence Upton
Where will this unconstrained hedonism take them?
At first Sunday is dismissive of Nolan’s work. But her passion for him develops as his genius unfolds – perhaps with her guiding hand – culminating in his famous series based on bushranger, Ned Kelly.
But when Sunday’s passion for Nolan moves towards its inexorable conclusion, where does that leave John? Does he stand aside or does he join the fun?
Photo Credit – STC / Prudence Upton
What is the connection between bohemia and art? Does great art only thrive in a less than conventional environment? Or does mainstream success force the unconventional to conform with societal expectations?
Intermission Chatter
“What debauchery!”
The middle-aged woman, seated next to me, remarked to her friend, with palpable scorn, as the house lights went up at intermission during our Saturday matinee performance.
The First Act had just ended with Sunday and Nolan finally sating their primal urges, with husband John enjoying the experience in his own way.
Photo Credit – STC / Prudence Upton
The woman’s commentary appeared to be shared throughout the Drama Theatre as animated conversation spread through the auditorium like florid brushstrokes on a blank canvass.
If the Artist has a duty to provoke a reaction in the viewer then playwright, Anthony Weigh, and director, Sarah Goodes, fulfilled that duty.
What My Eyebrows Told Me
My thinning eyebrows oscillated between a Caterpillar Arch and a High Arch during Sunday.
It was an engrossing story – and Anna Cordingley’s set design was sublime – but my eyebrows became just a little fatigued when some scenes extended beyond the time required to convey their point.
For more information on Sunday
Leave a comment