technicolor life
A bold, moving and magical celebration of life, love and missing parts.
production details
Season dates: 26 July-12 Aug, 2017 - The Depot Theatre
Playwright: Jami Brandli
Director: Julie Baz
Cast: Amy Victoria Brooks, Nyssa Hamilton, Michael Harrs, James Martin, Tasha O’Brien, Cherilyn Price, Emily Sulzberger and Cherrie Whalen-David
Stage Manager: Emma Bradbury
Lighting Designer: Mehran Mortezaei
Set Designer: David Jeffrey
Musical Elements & Choreographer: Robert Allan
synopsis
Maxine, a book smart teenager, is caught between her older sister, a wounded soldier who just returned from the war in Iraq, and her ailing grandmother with a flair for American Musicals. With the help of her new imaginary friends—Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes—Maxine secretly creates a dating profile for her sister and successfully sets her up with another wounded vet. Life takes a darker turn when her grandmother announces she'll be ending her life and wants her family to support her final wish by throwing her a good-bye party. With that, Maxine has to grow up fast.
Funny? Yes. Great cast? Absolutely ★★★★ Sydney Scoop
O’Brien expresses the complexities of Billie’s character – her initial zeal and determination, her grit in battle, her capacity for love, her loss of faith and confidence and her resulting slide into depression Stage Whispers
Tasha O’Brien is especially believable as Billie, plays her part with great sensitivity, taking us deep into her life of ugliness, rage, regret, and loss, building our empathy for her plight both in Iraq and at home Sydney Arts Guide
Tasha O’Brien is excellent as Billie, the war hero with a very specifically female brand of PTSD Lisa Thatcher
O'Brien allows Billie to retreat within herself as she struggles with survivor's guilt but ensures that the acerbic bitterness makes way for some moments of joy when she does find a friend in Jake Broadway World
Tasha O’Brien gives a strong and more starkly realistic performance as the wounded Billie The Buzz From Sydney
Director Julie Baz ensures that characters are colourful, with consistently vibrant interactions Suzy Goes See
Production photos: Katy Green Loughrey