This self-aware and often genuinely thrilling play puts the beloved bloodsucker in a Tasmania town, but it is let down by uneven pacing
Photograph: Pia JohnsonPhotograph: Pia Johnsonapital is dead labour, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labour, and lives the more, the more labour it sucks,” Karl Marx wrote in Das Kapital. More than a century later, his indictment on capitalism rings truer than ever – and the Malthouse’s new production takes it very literally., leans right into the metaphor.
There are some striking hints of religious symbolism: in one memorable scene, all five cast members sit around a table à la The Last Supper, animating in turn as Orlok sits in the middle, still and Christ-like. This scene, and the one in which Orlok and Tom first meet, plays out like choreography, with wonderful synchronicity between the actors as they ping-pong the rapid-fire dialogue.
On opening night, there might be a slight case of the jitters: both Brown and Siva are a little stiff at first, but visibly relax into their roles as the show goes on. Siva taps into a determined steeliness particularly in the second half, cutting to the journalist’s noble mission for truth and justice – then she switches up, revealing that even the righteous can crack in the fight for power.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tasmania is the only state that allows 'success fees' for lobbyists. That might changeFormer politicians Eric Abetz, Christopher Pyne, Lara Giddings and Paul Lennon are among the registered lobbyists working for clients in Tasmania, that much is known — and now there is a push for more transparency around the practice.
Read more »
Looking to buy property in Tasmania? There's one certificate you should know aboutTasmanian councils say a 'simple fix' would better protect home buyers in the state and give them a level of protection that exists in all other states and the ACT.
Read more »
Revealed: the areas where Australians are struggling to access free GP careExclusive: Data shows low bulk-billing rates in affluent Sydney suburbs as well as several regional electorates and Tasmania
Read more »
‘Foreign interference’ from Iran ‘horrific’ as expats intimidated out of protestsLiberal Senator for Tasmania Claire Chandler says the “foreign interference” from Iran is “frankly horrific” as expats are intimidated out of protesting. “All Australians should be really concerned about this foreign interference that we’re seeing,” Ms Chandler told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “Not only because it is frankly horrific that members of our community are being subjected to this but also because, fundamentally, this intimidation occurs in an effort to undermine or intimidate these people out of protesting. “In a country where we can all speak very freely and all have democratic rights, I think that should be very concerning to everyone.”
Read more »
‘Woke mob’ strikes scientific community for gender neutral labelling termsLiberal Senator for Tasmania Claire Chandler says the scientific community calling for the phasing out of male and female terms is the “woke mob” striking again. “This is just the woke mob striking again but I think what’s most disappointing about this is now it’s coming from the science community,” Ms Chandler told Sky News host Rita Panahi “We know biology matters and particularly in medical fields it really matters to be able to say what the difference is between a man and a woman. “Male and female bodies are different and that has implications for how we provide medical treatment – really crazy this sort of thing has taken hold in a profession that really should be fact and science-based.”
Read more »
Medibank class action launched after massive hack put private information of millions on dark webLaw firm Baker McKenzie says company failed to protect privacy of customers in Australia and overseas
Read more »