Undistinguished monologue-driven set of interlinked character reflections structured around themes of absence and middle-class emptiness. Strong performances (Noni Hazlehurst, Asher Keddie and Nicholas Bell) and really actually a pretty good production all round, but the failure is in the writing of the play itself - it just felt so much like a play. At one point, I found myself remembering the Abbey Theatre's rather spectacular "Terminus" from last year (because of that other's similar 'three rotating monologues' structure), and the contrast couldn't be more marked - whereas "Terminus" was urgent, human, full of art and life, "Madagascar" is, while competent enough, essentially flat, uninspired, all of its style somehow empty. To me, it didn't feel as if the play had anything real to say.
[part of an MTC subscription with Steph & co]
[part of an MTC subscription with Steph & co]
