The Fall and Fall of Jeromy Hawthorn
Written and directed by Adam Zwar
Metro Arts Theatre, Brisbane City
Nightly at 8pm until May 4
Reviewed by Lisa Young
The Fall and Fall of Jeromy Hawthorn is an honest, yet comical view of an actor's life and the whole theatrical scene. The title character is a Brisbane actor who studied at the best drama schools in England and is now trying to make a living in Brisbane, while striving for that big break to shoot him to stardom.
But roles are few and far between, and Jeromy ends up turning to the bottle for comfort and warmth. This only contributes to his eventual downfall, as he becomes more and more pretentious and self-involved.
While auditioning for a part in Hamlet, Jeromy is told to take his shirt off, get down on all fours and bark like a hound. Although he is outraged by this suggestion, Jeromy's desperation for success drives him to comply, contributing to his already declining self-esteem.
With a part in Hamlet confirmed, the amusing behind-the-scenes capers begin. This production shows the sniping, crawling, aggressive and dirty tactics used by actors in their desperate attempts to be accepted by the audience, their peers and the critics.
Paul Denny gives an excellent performance as Jeromy, who is the only character in the play. Denny pulls off conversations with other non-existent actors with ease and grace.
This production was further enhanced by the lighting techniques of Jodi Myuna and the compatible blend of old and contemporary music by sound engineer Justine Hansberry.
Adam Zwar's play is a tight, inspiring and highly recommended insight into the highs and lows of an actor's life.