Eden - 9 out of 10
Siren Theatre Co
TICKETS: Eden | Adelaide Fringe
Eden, written and directed by Kate Gaul, is destined
to become an Australian classic. It captures the dark soul at the heart of the
small, fictional town nestled on the banks of a tributary of The Darling.
Ultimately, though, Eden is a play about self-discovery and the courage
to pursue the life you deserve, away from the judging eyes of your conservative
community.
Two actors and two benches – though I found myself wishing
for the typical schoolyard benches to underscore their innocence and youth –
are all this play needs to immerse the audience into a world of intrigue and
forbidden love. Karrine Kanaan (Kit) and Lara Lightfoot (Dan) tell a story that
pivots from poetic confession to realism and back again. Kanaan and Lightfoot
are a well-balanced duo, playing off each other with an ease that comes from
creating something special together. They soon settle into the rhythm of
playing the cavalcade of residents within this insular world, capturing the
unique personalities and archetypes, before switching back to their main roles.
Kit’s unwavering gaze of adoration towards Dan is heartwarming to watch.
The simple lighting is effective within the constraints of
the converted blackbox space. It would be fascinating to see how the lighting
further enhances the intimate nature of the material and performances in a
space where light spill and reflections can be controlled more effectively. The
sound design is perhaps the one weak spot: the lack of a continuous underscore
made the moments of intentional silence feel less rare. Because tracks stopped
and started frequently, the 'utter silence' required by the script didn't
always land with the gravity it deserved.
Eden is a story that is simultaneously
quintessentially Australian, queer, and universal. One is left wondering, is it
always an external tragedy that forces one to take a leap into the unknown and
search for a place where you can truly and unashamedly be yourself?
–Scott
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