Sea levels are rising. Species are dying. Who gives a f%$# ?

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My Notes:

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You need to watch this documentary on YouTube with Extinction Rebellion founder Roger Hallam. He talks about the power of hope. We have a choice: We can hope that things are going to be okay and simply continue with our everyday lives, or we can decide that there is no hope, then conclude that there's nothing to lose and proceed to do something about it. A bit dark right? But The Turquoise Elephant is an extremely relevant story to be telling now because of this very choice. It crosses our minds everytime we hear or see something about the climate crisis. So do we acknowledge the reality we are living in, or do we trick ourselves and downplay the issue? We seem to have progressed beyond denial of climate change as a society now. The new cards on the table to squabble over are how serious we think the issue has become, the money that needs to be devoted to it, and whether any action is going to help at all. Is it too little too late? The Turquoise Elephant brings us out of this rabbit hole of doom and gloom, not to distract us, but to point directly at the issue and the cause.

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I think the play communicates the absurdity better than I can describe it here. Each character has their own bonkers idea of what's going on outside and how to cope. It's a rolicking and twisted story, but what it comments on is really of interest to me, because we cannot ignore what is going on under our noses. Corporate greed, obnoxious bureaucracy, rampant corruption and vested interests among our politicians. Deeper still, a dysfunctional social order where the good, pure and beautiful on this planet are at the mercy of humanity's dirty, wasteful and selfish ways. When did we decide that our s**t doesn't stink? We are at a time where many of our systems and structures are being challenged, and where our very livelihoods are feeling the pressure. It's time to do something good for the world. For a change.

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Seriously, check out that documentary. Ordinary people everyday are rising up. They are taking action. They are sick of inaction. They want quality of life. They do not want to see the world polluted. They are tired of backflipping and insulting political decisions that pander to big business. Now is a critical point in history.

 

I'm not saying to abandon your current lives and instead take action. That would be crazy............. Well.............

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Playwright: Stephen Carleton

Director & Designer: Lachlan Driscoll

Assistant Director: El Waddingham

Lighting & Sound Designer: Noah Milne

Intimacy Director: Michelle Miall

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Cast: Amanda McErlean, Robert Wainwright, Sandra Harman, Clarise Ooi, Rebecca Day​

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Reviews:

 

"In such a situation [as our current climate crisis], an absurdist, black farce is absolutely the way in which to encourage audiences to face up to current reality—and to start to talk about the ‘elephant in the room’ (now, for me, forever turquoise!). There are some lovely inside jokes in this work, including the reference to a playwright with ‘nothing original to say.’  Stephen Carleton's The Turquoise Elephant may be telling us what we already know, but it forces us to think about the way in which we can all act and make a genuine difference. This is an original piece of writing, beautifully directed by Driscoll. Studio 1 works so well for this show, but it’s an intimate space. Here’s hoping that Observatory Theatre may have the opportunity to bring this show to a slightly larger space—or be able to add more performances into this short run." Catherine Lawrence, Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane

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"The casting for this production was excellent. In addition to Harman’s fantastic leading role, McErlean gloried in the opportunity to play the quite disgusting, lusting and even maniacal Aunt Olympia. Wainwright’s Jeff was suitably two-dimensional—although I’d like to see just a little more of his relishing the moments of evil manipulation. And hats off to the cast and Director on teasing out Visi and Basra’s ‘yin and yang.’ Ooi and Day created excellent counterpoints, developing the contrasts between each of their characters in a nuanced way that built inevitably toward the concluding final scene. In the interests of not introducing any spoilers into this review, I won’t refer to why I loved that fantastic final moment; you’ll just need to buy a ticket for the show.  " Catherine Lawrence, Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane​​​​