Review – They Saw a Thylacine
They Saw a Thylacine introduces us to two women who are leading somewhat parallel lives in early twentieth-century Tasmania. One is an animal tracker – not, she is careful to mention, a trapper – who is on the path of a female Tasmanian tiger who is known, somewhat erroneously, as Benjamin. The other, meanwhile, is a zoo keeper’s daughter who is trying to secure the future of the animals in the zoo’s collection after the death of her father. Animals including, coincidentally or not, a female Thylacine called Benjamin.
This is an engaging, minimalist little play which unites a conservationist and feminist agenda into sad, multi-layered tale. Sarah Hamilton and Justine Campbell give strong vocal performances to the production; mostly, this is in the form of rhythmic monologues, but they also take turns being secondary characters to each other’s yarns. This works to create an energetic, textured and fable-like atmosphere to the production – one that is, in the tradition of story-telling, more audible than visual. And this is all furnished by some curious decisions that were made in the development of this play, such as the inclusion of a disco ball and the cantina music from Star Wars. Frippery or not, it was at least worth a smile.
They Saw a Thylacine is unambitious, contemplative theatre which demonstrates the talent, originality and professionalism of its actors and creators. With its early time slot it’s the ideal show to catch before dinner, while the sun’s still up, and before the more raucous night-time entertainment hit the Fringe.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT2JpibEsC8&w=300]
