Blue @ Scott Theatre, University Of Adelaide, Adelaide 28/2/2024
Prepare to take a deep dive into the murky blue waters of the human spirit.
Blue, a Belvoir St Theatre production presented by the State Theatre Company South Australia in association with Adelaide Festival, is the story of Mark. Mark and his mum share a passion for writing. When he moves into his first share flat, they remain connected by exchanging letters. After getting a devastating letter, Mark is drawn back to the ocean. Something that was a fixture in his life and a core memory of the best and worst times.
The story begins with Mark receiving that letter. He then shares his journey of self-discovery from childhood to the present day.
Written by Kamilaroi man Thomas Weatherill (Heartbreak High) and directed by Deborah Brown (Bangarra Dance Theatre), the play candidly depicts a life stained by tragedy and loss and enriched by love and learning. Emphasis is firmly placed on themes of tragedy and loss. More than a coming-of-age story, it captures the life-changing challenges a young man experiences and does so with raw sensitivity.
Weatherill’s script blends nuances typically associated with Gen Z and a stiltedness occasionally seen in older generations. While the dialogue is predominately casually conversational, it becomes formal at times. For example, when Mark describes the effects of drowning, he does so with encyclopedic accuracy. One could question the disconnect between the two styles. Yet, in the context of the narrative it serves well to highlight Mark’s disassociation strategies. After all, he “didn’t cry when John died. At least, not at the time”.
The narrative is well-paced, with the flow capitalising on the ebbs and flows of emotion. Weatherill wastes no time in bringing tragedy to the forefront. Still, he doesn’t blindside us. We see it coming and are afforded the opportunity to emotionally brace ourselves.
A lot of emotional bracing is required with Blue.
Jacob Nash and Cris Baldwin’s set design is simple, nevertheless effective. A wrinkle-textured raised white platform, akin to a skateboard ramp, serves as a blank canvas. It depicts a loving home, a cold hospital, the tragic and healing sea.
David Bergman’s video design, Chole Ogilvie’s lighting design and Wil Hughes’s sound design and composition together transform each scene into the desired location.
What can be said about Wiradjuri man Callan Purcell’s (Hamilton) performance? So much, yet not enough. He is superb as protagonist Mark. Tasked with performing an eighty-minute stream of consciousness monologue is difficult enough. However, he does so while embodying a compassionate character working through multiple traumas with authenticity. The tears were genuine. The grief palpable. The joy pure. He was captivating whether he sat and spoke or dived into the sea.
Blue is a visually breathtaking and contemporary examination of age-old themes. It is an honest portrayal of situations many have faced and a timely reminder that we are not alone in our experiences.
Content warning: suicide themes.
Adelaide Festival Review By Anita Kertes