Crew and Creatives
WRITER -RUBY THOMAS
DIRECTOR -LUCY MORRISON
DESIGNER -NAOMI DAWSON
LIGHTING -HOLLY ELLIS
SOUND -BELLA KEAR
FIGHT -MC_COMBAT (MAISIE CARTER)
Cast
Animal Kingdom is in fact not about the jungle... or animals at all. This is a family drama set in a therapist's office and their relationships over six sessions after Sam, played by Ragevan Vasan, attempted to kill himself.
The stage is simple; scaffolding in the shape of a greenhouse with some chairs. It is so effective, it is pleasant to look at, unique, yet doesn't distract from the depth of the writing and acting. The actors switch chairs between scenes to show time passage proving that you don't always need elaborate transitions with huge movement pieces to get your point across.
Each character is thoroughly developed and it is hard not to get emotionally involved in the family dynamic. The tropes they possess aren't necessarily unique but that is what makes them so wildly relatable. The mother, Martina Laird, is overbearing and almost annoying but does it as a protective mechanism for herself and everyone around her. The dad, Johnathan McGuinniess, is cold and reserved due to his harsh upbringing and doesn't know how to be a different father to what his dad was. The sister, Ashna Rabheru, is neglected by everyone as they focus on Sam; she resents him for what he did and how selfish he was only because she loves him. These connections develop and heighten as the sessions progress. It feels raw and I could see my family in each dynamic.
Daniel the therapist, Paul Keating, is integral in keeping the structure of the performance and progressing but allows the main themes of family to shine through. He is engaging and endearing, not stealing the spotlight but comfortably sharing it.
For anyone concerned about the topics of suicide and self harm I can assure you that these are discussed in a sensitive and respectful way. The weigh to how true some of the statements were made me well up. There are no graphic portrayals of any thing but there are healed self harm wounds shown towards the end of the performance so I would keep that in mind.
"I don't care what he does, or who he is as long as I don't have to bury him"
The ending is the bitter sweet reality of coming to an end of therapy; the family is still struggling, they're still hurt and angry but they are willing to make changes to help each other. It is so exhilarating to see a piece that doesn't sugar coat nor unnecessarily dramatize the topic of suicide and how it effects the people around that person. This is a must see if you love a deep theatre piece.
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