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Empty Vanity by local writer and director James Watson, is a unique and thought-provoking experience. The series of scenes explore relationships, what they mean, what they are, and what they can be. Relationships of primal animalistic instincts of human nature, to the more complex modern emotional connections that include rationale, baggage and ultimately, heartbreak.
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| The Bakehouse Theatre |
Watson, at only 18 has constructed an hour long performance that combines subtext and superb acting to convey real interconnection between the viewers and their entertainment.
Something like a finger tracing along the side of a glass tells the audience more about the characters state of mind than their words. The power behind the actors performances transports the audience into the action itself, one scene in particular between a middle age couple made me feel the anxiety and stress of hearing your own parents fighting with no resolution.
The performances use the minimal props to their full advantage, creating the sense of completed scenes in lieu of a fully constructed stage. The production used their scene changing blackout time, with characters trading items of clothing in this space to create an illusion of continuation between the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting and fascinating creation, head to adelaidefringe.com to book tickets to the remaining shows!
