Emus On Stage

Produced by NicNac Productions and directed by Nigel Turner-Carol, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea was an immaculate performance perfectly balancing all the storytelling elements of their universe. The play admirably counteracted the serious overtones of the show with delicate humour that highlighted the deep intricacies of the highs and lows of the human experience. 

The play was broken down into three acts: 1 in a bar, 2 later that night at Roberta’s house and then 3 the following morning at Roberta’s house.The first act was set with 2 square bartables, 2 chairs, a beer each and some pretzels. Similar to the first act, the second and third act had an equally simple set, involving a mattress on the floor and a bedside table. From the basic setup, JK Kazzi playing Danny and Jacqui Purvis playing Roberta, completely mesmerised us into the world of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. 

The set and lighting design was simple and allowed the audience’s main focus to be on the actors without distraction. There were a handful of moments that amplified the already amazing acting. One of the first key moments that showed the relationship between Danny and Roberta was when Danny pours Roberta a schooner from his beer jug before realising there won’t be enough for another glass for him. He ends up pouring half of her glass back into his jug and continues on like it’s a normal occurrence for him. Despite the tension in the moment, the humor of this moment elevated the bond between Danny and Roberta. 

The second act was atmospherically beautiful. There was a beautiful hearty blue light from the opposite side of the stage.  Roberta ecstatically looks towards the midnight blue light, telling Danny how the neighbours pigeon aviary lamp reminds her of the moon. ‘A full moon every night,’ she exclaimed to him. We briefly see her opening herself up to Danny, showing herself as hopeful and a romantic at heart. Through the beauty of the light and how Roberta looks at it, we get to truly see her longing for a new life. A moment later, while in the middle of a rut, Danny climbed to the top of the annex and admired the same sight, reminding Roberta of all the beautiful things to look forward to. It was electric watching Purvis and Kazzi admire their world from the tiny ledge they were perched on.

While the lighting in the third act was completely contrasting the second act but equally as beautiful. A simple warm light gradually grew from the stage right replacing the blue of the night entirely. As it slowly illuminated the mattress on the floor, we felt hopeful Danny and Roberta could turn a page on their current trials, and would embrace the possibilities of a new day. Despite Roberta’s deep dismay of the promises given the previous night, the warm light let us know that all would work out between them. 

I’ve never seen more intimate acting in Australian theatre than that of JK Kazzi and Jacqui Purvis together. The relationship of the two characters was always passed between the two actors like a baton, surrendering themselves to the other character. Danny and Roberta’s universe was plastered throughout the whole theatre. We always knew exactly where they were, what type of atmosphere they were in and exactly what they were looking at. They both forfeited themselves to the circumstances of the play.

RATING 

Performers Skill 5 / 5

Stage and Atmosphere 5 / 5

Value for Money PAID $40  5 / 5

Entertainment value 5 / 5

Independent theatre +1

21 / 20