Scratch Night TAKEOVER: The Monologue Collective: Review by Cynthia
The Shopfront Arts Co-op hosted the last few shows of The Monologue Collective with performances by drama students and scripts written by teenage writers, a fresh take on HSC drama work meeting the expected criteria.
Whilst the concept of teenage angst is nothing new, these acts are not all that we expected them to be, ranging from light-hearted humour to strong themes. A much-welcomed change from picking out old monologues that seem now very outdated and boxed in.
The costumes worn by the actors were school uniforms with additional accessories that emphasised the personality of their characters. The set design and props were straightforward and simple, with a centred blackboard with chalked-on notes by the cast and crew and a few blocks. These were easy to manoeuvre for each performance and changed the setting effectively with strong colour lighting effects of red to white and minimal use of music or sound. The audience would sit on either side of the stage and the actors made use of the space to give everyone a clear visual.
The acts were diverse in portraying different facets of emotional highs and lows without it being one note of the assumed ‘moody teenager’ because their feelings and experiences are just as valid and important as everyone else’s and shouldn’t be casually brushed off as ‘only a phase’. Some of these moments during our adolescent lives are pivotal triggers in our decision-making as we navigate the transition into adulthood with new experiences and the risks that come with them.
There is an urgency to give young people a dedicated platform to use the power of their voices in their storytelling. And I believe that Laneikka Denne (Founder) is onto something amazing that will open doors for the next generation. This also gives the opportunity for young writers and actors to hone their craft in a safe space that encourages them to create their own work by nurturing their individuality as artists.
There was some nervousness on stage, but I noticed that the actors felt comfortable with the script and themselves knowing the characters intimately and delivering the lines confidently. The pacing per monologue was relatively short and sweet and the line-up of stories kept it interesting, particularly Saturn Fairy (played by Emily Lomman and written by Fletcher Scully) which my little sister and I enjoyed very much. As I was sitting a little further back, it was difficult to hear some of the dialogue and I would miss out on a bit of the context and along with some of the set-up for their jokes. I hoped to see more of a dynamic emotional change with the actors using techniques such as taking time on pauses, breathing, and facial expression – This helps drive the message of the narrative to the audience and connects them with the character. All of this will come with experience and further training and these young writers and actors have great potential.
The humour translated well across different age groups, particularly MJ (played by Jasper Lee-Lindsay and written by Milena Barraclough Nesic) with a comedic reference to the plant and One More Time (played by Martha Russell and Written by Parker Craig) which touched on generational trauma with imagery and references to the pop star Britney Spears.
The play that resonated with me the most was The Dreamhouse (played by Isabelle Nader and written by Ayah Darwich) which showed the frustrations, intense emotional struggles and invisibility felt by a first-generation daughter to immigrant parents that settled in Australia. I empathised with the character and understood that it takes time to heal through communication with your loved ones to overcome the suppressed negative emotions which I hope that they do later in life and be at peace with themselves. These works only scratch the surface, encapsulating the decade they are growing up in by giving us an insight into the issues that today’s adolescents face, which helps adults gauge how to approach them on an emotional level.
I’m so happy that I got to bring my teenage sister to see the show and she not only enjoyed it but also asked if she was able to perform one of them at school! I highly recommend any parent to come with their teenager to see The Monologue Collective, talk about the show and get to know each other a little more and build stronger communication lines. I appreciated that there was a Q & A after to speak with the team about their process, thoughts and for audiences to engage with the actors, writers and the stories being told.
Monologues for teenagers should be everchanging and evolving for each generation as there is no set standard or formula, nor there should be. There needs to be a variety for HSC students to choose from and not be limited to just the classics or tropes that don’t necessarily mesh with them or allow them to perform freely and authentically.
Well done to Laneikka and all the writers and performers. I am looking forward to seeing what else The Monologue Collective will bring to the table in 2023 with more conversations for young people and hope that this wave of change is felt across Australia.
Images supplied.
