A little while ago I had the pleasure of speaking to Tasmanian theatre Actor and Director, the wonderful Robert Jarman. The reason for our chat was the upcoming production of Tassie’s very own, amazing playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer.
Finegan’s plays are known and performed internationally and here in Tasmania we will have seen two productions this year, this upcoming play, ‘The Uncharted Hour’ and ‘Love’ recently performed by The Terrapin Theatre Company.
The Uncharted Hour will chart Robert’s twelfth direction with The Theatre Royal and he is relishing directing, he also hints at a desire to do more acting.
As Robert notes the play is about the movement of time but uses the image of a chart or map. It is a confusing title as we don’t think of charting something like time, it is usually a physical formation that we chart, and so it is, that the play is also about the charting of a physical and psychological transformation in a family, in which long forgotten memories resurface.
The play is complex and concerns a young man who returns home and like the Proustian Madeleine cake dipped in tea drenches him in a whole flood of memories, so does the incident of running over a dog opens up a rush of memories for the protagonist of the play that recall a tragedy in his own life. Robert says that Finegan has a great understanding of the male psyche especially an ability to understand those wounded areas.
At the time we chatted Robert tells me that the cast were half way through rehearsals and this is the breakthrough point when things start to become clear. Robert also reminds me of Finegan’s knack for introducing a piece of what ostensibly seems to be trivia but will resonate throughout the play. In one play, the mention of ‘cheese’ resonates in such a way. Robert continued that every rehearsal is a revelation with continuously new things being brought to the surface, this together with brainstorming sessions sees the play begin to take form.
And so on November 11th the play will be ready for a polished performance with cast and crew having reached a greater understanding of it’s complexities.
The cast includes Mel King and Jane Longhurst and as Robert puts it ‘two top notch’ Tassie actors that now make their living in Sydney but have come back especially to star in this production
Finegan Kruckemeyer’s ‘This uncharted Hour’ directed by Robert Jarman starts at The Theatre Royal on November 11.
This Uncharted Hour
Friday 11 November at 8pm
Saturday 12 November at 2pm & 8pm
Paula Xiberras
