The name Ruben means ‘behold a son’ and it suits very well the protagonist of Brendan Cowell’s play ‘Ruben Guthrie’. Ruben is ‘a hot shot genius’ in advertising and seems to believe himself invincible, even when as the play opens, he sits in a church hall (this may be symbolic and a gesture to Ruben’s biblical name) hampered by a broken arm, symbolically disabled of part of his movement he is still supremely sure of himself demonstrated by his comment
“Hi, I am Ruben Guthrie and I am here”. Ruben is announcing his presence, that he has arrived just as the biblical Ruben’s arrival is announced by his father. Yet another etymology of the name is ‘he has seen my misery’ and indeed the other characters in this play do see Rubens misery and do what they can to rescue him from himself and his addiction to alcohol.
In a powerful piece of symbolism Ruben, after an alcoholic binge, literally falls from the roof of a building to find himself dowsed in a children’s swimming pool, not even the adult one! This fact is not lost on him but he fails to see the symbolism that he is still immature and perhaps a little bit shallow like the children’s swimming pool.
I spoke to the director Robert Jarman about the play which is utilised in some places as a school text and an appropriate one at that. Robert tells me that the play is challenging a very serious issue, such questions of is alcoholism genetic or something that develops through life choices, is it pressured by peers and are the weak willed more susceptible? Ruben with all his assertiveness would seem to be contradictory to that assumption. The issue is approached in an entertaining way perhaps a way that young people will identify with. Audiences may also enjoy the quirky characters. The play does have a’ ‘a shocking aftermath’ but it is a serious and funny play with a build up to the ‘crash’.
Robert Jarman tells me that the play is beautifully written (a warning there is some strong language) and that Brendan Cowell is a bit of a renaissance man, having just finished his first novel ‘This is how it feels’, wrote a cult comedy series for SBS and impressively, also played Hamlet for The Bell Shakespeare Company.
Ruben Guthrie his play is in part autobiographical. Cleverly, Brendan doesn’t set the play in the world of actors which could also have served as an arena where alcohol is misused. Robert says that would be too boring so instead Cowell uses the world of advertising. Without compromising the fact of making Ruben ‘a creative person’ the play does not preach or lecture, in that way it may make more of an impact on young people.
But back to that church hall, some critics have mentioned Ruben in relation to the Icarus myth, that he believed he had wings, hence his soaring of the building and flying too close to the sun. We have a young man who believes himself God like and invincible and he works in an industry that perpetuates this myth.,The world of advertising.
Interestingly Guthrie is also a biblical name meaning ‘gust of wind’ and perhaps Ruben is such a gust of wind and ball of energy that is in danger of being depleted of steam.
The production showcases an all Tasmanian cast. It has had sell out seasons in Sydney and played in Melbourne. Ruben Guthrie plays at the Theatre Royal backspace 22-31st March.
Robert Jarman says he has enjoyed directing this production very much although he frustratingly will not tell me how the play ends! Robert promises big things to come next year when he returns to acting for Ten Days on the Island.
Paula Xiberras
