By Jennifer Beasley.
An exploration of one woman’s journey through her Hell by breaking the circle of pain.
I had to look up Lyceum, which is a hall or a place for discussion and learning. In K. V. Adams play, two extraordinarily written characters, Maggie (played convincedly with contrary vindictiveness and self-protection by Laura Iris Hill) and G, an equally gifted actor and playing childishly joyful and likable Kevin Dee, drive up and down the same highway track, an ever growing sense of urgency portrayed by the blackening sky that appears on the screen behind them (AV by Minty Hunter) as the tension rises, until we unpeel those 5 circles that surround the Hell that is Maggie’s current life and the origin story of her pain.
Terrific direction by Brooke Fairley; she has drawn the most nuanced of performances by these two amazing actors. Without a doubt, it is very hard to like Maggie, but such is the ability of Shakespearian actor Hill, that her momentous character’s fuming anger is often complimented and controlled by the humour and good nature of G, and the believability of these performances meant that your felt the pain of suppressed emotions in Maggie.
I loved the set and stage Manager Steven T. Boltz, who has done a superb job here, as has the amazing Clare Mendes as the producer, who has such a love of the stage and supporting emerging talent. Without this passion Melbourne would be bereft of these stories that allows the audience to partake in the lives of others.
The sound, supplied by Jonh Jenkins, was subliminal, a dying pulse that drummed threateningly underneath, with breakthrough flashes of thunder to heighten the growing tension. Brilliant lighting in this minimal set only encouraged the feeling of isolation and desperation.
If there is anything to improve, I would say that after the denouement the energy dropped, and in this part where the two forlorn characters sat drunk on a log could have been tightened so that the tension remained at a killer pace.
Overall, a great and enjoyable 70-minute one act play at The Stables @ The Meat Market, and a deservable winner of the 2025 Amethyst Award.
Image: Anna Moloney-Heath
