Psychopaths by Thomas SainsburyFingerprints & Teeth Productions Shed 10 77 Cook St, AucklandUntil February 7thThomas Sainsbury lived for a time in New York and his play “Psychopaths” grew out of his awareness of the sense of violence in th
Psychopaths by Thomas Sainsbury
Fingerprints & Teeth Productions
Shed 10 77 Cook St, Auckland
Until February 7th
Thomas Sainsbury lived for a time in New York and his play “Psychopaths” grew out of his awareness of the sense of violence in the city and the media induced fear which has serial killers on every block of the city and every acquantance is a potential stalker, rapist or murderer.
The play centres on Amy, a young New Zealander newly arrived in New York, out of work in a seedy apartment with a scheming flatmate and a seedy next door neigbour.
She gets told all the horror stories of what happens in the city and is constantly on edge. Then one night the front door handle starts to turn…
“Psychopaths” is a horror play nicely balanced with some great comedy but even the comedy has a sinister edge to it.
Sainsbury manages to tell his story with a gritty realism which owes much to horror movies but uses the best elements of the genre leaving out the melodramatic stuff.
One of the annoying things about horror movies is the stereotypical woman who wanders around the dark house with a dreamy expression on her face never conscious that something bad might happen. And then when it does she becomes a mass of screaming lips and bulging eyes.
It’s all very predictable and a bit tedious which is why Morgana O’Reilly’s performance as Amy is so compelling and convincing.
She lets us know early on that she is scared of being in the big city and in the little apartment. She knows her fears but is helpless so the audience responds with her when she encounters the unknown.
She displays a naturalism and emotional sophistication which is captivating.
Sainsbury manages to explore our fears with characters who well drawn and given well crafted dialogue which is not padded out with extraneous material.
The set is simple lounge room which also serves briefly as a bar. One of the four doors opens onto the outside carpark making one conscious of the theatrically of the production and the invention of another world.
In addition to the brilliant Morgana O’Reilly there are great performances from Andi Crown as the self-absorbed flat mate, Todd Emerson as the jittery next door neighbour and Dwayne Cameron as the enigmatic Pierre.
Adding greatly to the play is the fine soundscape composed by Matt Ledingham which creates a claustrophobic and unsettling mood.
