Printable CopyBROKEN POT
Spotlight Theatre Company
Holden Street Theatres
Until 09 Nov 2011

Review by Jamie Wright

The combined efforts of first-time playwright James Majur, Spotlight Theatre, SA Writer's Theatre, the Migrant Resource Centre and the English Language School, 'Broken Pot' is the story of Mary, a Sudanese girl caught between the wishes of her traditional father and her own desires to take the modern option of getting an education.

While Majur's script is the work of an inexperienced playwright – it is at some points repetitive, with some clunky dialogue – the characters are solid and the story compelling. Director Tony Moore has done well to balance the seriousness of the story with some lighter moments; however, the projected images are distracting and, given the effectiveness of designer Shannon Norfolk's set and sound effects, unnecessary.

Shannon Gray, brought in only two weeks from opening to replace the original Mary, does well in the part, portraying Mary as determined yet conflicted. Cherian Philipose is good as Chief Akol when he's calm, but struggles to match the full emotional range of the character.

Awit Kuac, as Mama Mary, doesn't get many opportunities (courtesy of the script), but has some good moments. She does however suffer somewhat from excessive hand gesturing. Benoit Auberger is great as Baba Mary conveying comical, cowardly and nasty as the situation demands – though there are some occasions where he either pauses for too long or is struggling with lines.

While this is no means great theatre on a technical level, it has at its heart an honest, compelling story and a valuable lesson about what freedom means to different people. Well done Tony Moore and Spotlight Theatre for giving this voice an opportunity to be heard.