The last Hammond Fleet Production was the sell-out season of ‘These Things Happen’ that won the ‘Best Theatre’ award at the Adelaide Fringe.

This joint Blue Room Theatre and Hammond Fleet Production can be seen at the Blue Room main theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge nightly at 7.00 pm until Saturday 3^rd December.

A 60 cms dais is central stage; crowned with a beautifully Manchestered, double bed. The bedhead has drapes up to the ceiling. This muslin acts as a screen for superbly filmed and acted AV – set design by Joe Lui. The soundscape and video are the work of Joe Leach. Kennah Parker is the Stage Manager.

       It is early morning, Paul Macbeth (Greg Fleet) awakes and cuddles his wife Lainey (Nicola Bartlett). After a personal tragedy, could this special day breathe new life into the Macbeths? It is Election Day in Cannington, and the Liberal candidate, Paul Macbeth is hopeful of winning the seat. However, in his sleep he dreamt of three crony constituents (Sarah McNeill, Summer Williams, Russya Connor) who tell him that he will become Thane of Cannington, Thane of Claremont and King hereafter – but with a few limitations, including ‘until lions crawl the street of Perth’.

      ‘Mac’ is a charismatic person but with a shortage of brain cells. On the other hand, Lainey is an ambitious and powerful manipulator. They watch Dennis Commeti (Matt Dyktynski) on TV as he passes to the live reporter, Caitlyn Beresford-Ord in Cannington for a vox pop. A magician (Matt Penny) is trying to work his election wizardry, but a snarling, venom spitting woman (Kate Keady) states her disgust at Macbeth and the whole election.

      Soon the WA State Premiere (Shaun Micallef) is congratulating Macbeth on his success, not realising that Lainey has a devilish scheme to push her husband’s career further. The congratulatory TV interview turns sour when the reporter (Roz Hammond) asks a few pertinent questions. Even Macbeth’s best friend, Banquo (Luke Hewitt) has doubts about Mac and Lainey’s tactics.

      What has the future in store for the Macbeths?

The show is a two-hander, with all of the other characters appearing on the screen. Some of WA’s top actors present these multi-media, cameo performances, at times very funny, then extremely dark.

Joe Leach’s soundscape had a few masterful touches, such as the sound of a massive storm breaking when a certain email is sent. By using a wide angled lens, Joe has created a slightly distorted appearance to the facial features, adding an extra depth of menacing, especially to the ghost scenes. Joe Lui’s lighting was warm and dim.

Normally the public suspect some of the dirty tricks that take place behind the scenes, but after Donald Trump bringing the dirt to the surface, this wonderful play brings plenty of smiles, chortles and gasps.

Greg Fleet has presented us with a script that blends action, several hundred years apart that is high drama whilst presenting the farce that is politics today. The dialogue is contemporary, although the many appropriate Shakespearean quotes make one think how current the Bard’s stories still are.

Greg presented the character of the arrogant, incompetent politician perfectly. Nicola Bartlett was amazing as the ambitious wife, who starts as a caring partner and gradually melds into a schizophrenic megalomaniac, and finally becoming a pathetically, sad case.

Both actors gave rich and powerful performances.

It is always good to see theatre with something new, clever and brilliantly presented. Loved it.

This 70-minute play, by world famous Australian comedian, Greg Fleet, can be seen at the Blue Room Studio Theatre, James Street, Northbridge, each evening until the 6^th September. The show begins at 8.30 pm.

The scene is a typical student bedsit in the early 80s. In the one room, there is a convertible bed / settee, a kitchen table and chairs, and of course the record player. In the corner is a bar, strangely housing a keyboard player (Michael de Grussa, newly returned from performing on several continents).

The kitchen furniture is painted onto the orange walls. Set designer Christian Barratt has used a great deal of symbolism, as he depicts and emphasises the ‘fluid’ mentality of the tenants. Smoothly stage managed by Rhianne Perrie.

       A middle-aged man, Jimmy Harrison (Greg Fleet) wanders around the student flat. He tells us how he lived there decades ago, and how in his mind he has visited the place many times since. He smiles as he watches himself thirty years earlier as a young, pot smoking art student (Shane Adamczak).

      The front door opens and a young girl, Sophie (Tegan Mulvany) enters. She is Jimmy’s date. The girl looks around at the semi-squalor, the LP record collection and Jimmy’s amazing artwork on the walls. Soon a relationship develops and Sophie moves in, with her even more incredible LP collection – the bonding is immediate. The older Jimmy slips the musician in the corner a few dollars and he starts to play a Daryl Braithwaite song. Love is complete.

       The older Jimmy reminisces, soaking up the warmth of that long lost happiness. Then seconds later, as he watches the couple, finds himself desperately trying to change history. The things that were said and done and brought his life crashing down. Life in retrospect is so much clearer and easier to control. Then Jimmy asks, ‘Is life really clearer now?’ or is has he simply blotted out episodes or tidied up situations without even knowing?

        What has happened since those student days? What happened to Sophie?

Most of us will have had similar experiences to this story. Recalling the happiest days of our lives, whilst cursing the stupid things we said at the time, changing our future forever. The partner that you loved so much, may look so different in the rear-view mirror.

The structure of the ingenious writing is superb, with some passages that will have you roaring with laughter and then mopping away the tears. Greg’s writing and Tegan’s direction work perfectly together. The symbiotic result gives a very vivid picture of our student days. The acting has Greg as an older, wiser man, quietly and logically looking at his youth, whilst the young couple live out their loves, frustrations and joys, with highly emotional performances. Some powerful acting, dramaturge by Kate Mulvany.

I went to the theatre expecting a light comedy but got so much more. Superb acting, great story and a memorable night out. Try to catch this fresh look at young love and its complexities.