‘Fury’ – Sydney Theatre Company

FURY – BY JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH
DIRECTED BY ANDREW UPTON
SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY – WHARF 1
20 APRIL – 8 JUNE 2013

Lea: Something just didn’t click with this show. Yes it was a preview, and maybe it needs some time to mature, but it’s STC people! It felt like the performances just hadn’t landed yet and the pace was dire. Dire! I think the themes are really valid and important. It’s a good play. One I can see being being studied and performed numerous times in the future. Though it needs a decent edit, and dare I say, a different style of direction. This was my first Andrew Upton directed play and after all the hype I was really disappointed. Stylistically it was stark, which I really don’t mind generally, but it went too far and I just ended up feeling alienated from everyone.

Syb: My first thought post-show after ‘I need a wine’ was – this show needs a serious edit. About 20 minutes needs to be cut out of it. Perhaps it just hasn’t come together yet – we were watching a preview, but I found myself checking the time and drifting off during some pretty lengthy monologues. Some of the smaller characters were really strong – the teacher and the ‘Westie’ Dad were great – but I was not engaged by the writing or performances, and I don’t think it can be wholly blamed on the direction. I wanted to like it more than I could. I actually can’t really tell you how it ended, as I didn’t realise it was the climax, and had zoned out a little. Perhaps the wrong show on the wrong day for this particular audience member: I was disappointed.

IN SUMMARY

NOTE: This epic post-show discussion also birthed the idea of doing this blog. From this point in, we will be recording our discussions and posting them (almost) verbatim.

PRE SHOW EATS: The Bar at the End of the Wharf. The arancini balls are amazing!
POST SHOW DRINKS: The Bar at the End of the Wharf. Seriously, it’s right there as you leave Wharf 1, and the vibe is so cool.
HANGOVER STATUS: Commensurate with the length of our post-show debate: epic.