High Country Theatre’s production of Lonely Love, a new play by local playwright Margaret Sims, explores the boundaries between what is real, what is imagined and what we choose to believe.
Presented under the Armidale Live umbrella, this first staging of the work was beautifully executed by director Penny Dalgleish.
Sims had originally intended to direct the production but needed to step into the central role of Patricia partway through the rehearsal period. Penny Dalgleish stepped into the director’s role while also taking responsibility for the set design. Managing such a significant change during rehearsals and delivering such an assured final production was an impressive achievement by both women and the wider cast and crew.
The production’s clean, restrained set was one of its great strengths. With little to distract the eye, the focus remained firmly on the characters, and the relationships and questions unfolding between them. Its simplicity gave the production greater power and allowed the more unsettling elements of the story to emerge gradually.
The production was a true ensemble piece. Margaret Sims was joined on stage by Julie Harm as Janice, Kalie Love as Katie, Ava Watts as Beatrice and Jackey Turner as Laney.
Sims brought sensitivity and emotional depth to Patricia, a character profoundly shaped by the weight of her troubled past. Julie Harm was particularly engaging as the down-to-earth Janice, bringing warmth, humour and a welcome sense of groundedness to the production. Kalie Love and Ava Watts also gave strong performances as mother and daughter, creating a believable relationship between their characters.
Jackey Turner rose admirably to some particularly challenging demands placed upon her as an actor. To explain further would risk revealing one of the play’s key elements, but her performance deserves recognition for the skill and commitment it required.
Together, the cast navigated the shifting ground between certainty and doubt, leaving the audience to consider where reality ends and perception begins.
The relationships between the characters, broken and repaired, fragile and strong, real and imagined, emerge as the core to a narrative that challenges the audience on multiple levels.
The production also highlighted the important role that Armidale Live and its affiliate, High Country Theatre, play in supporting the region’s creative community.
By providing a platform for new dramatic works, particularly Australian works, these organisations give emerging and established writers the rare opportunity to see their scripts move from the page to the stage. A live production allows a playwright to discover how the words, characters, pacing and ideas work before an audience. It is an invaluable part of developing new theatre and ensuring Australian stories continue to be written, tested and performed.
The value of community theatre, however, extends well beyond the people seen on stage.
Among those supporting the production was Dorothy “Dotty” Pollard, who at 91 years young remains an integral part of Armidale’s theatre community. Dotty has spent many years ensuring cast, crew and audience members are welcomed with a cup of tea and a bikkie.
Her contribution is a lovely reminder that productions such as Lonely Love depend upon a generous network of volunteers. From building sets and managing costumes to welcoming patrons and putting the kettle on, their work creates the sense of community that keeps local theatre alive.
Lonely Love was not simply the first performance of a new work. It was also a demonstration of what can happen when local writers, performers, directors, crew and volunteers are given a place to create together.
Through a beautifully realised production, a committed cast and Penny Dalgleish’s assured direction and design, Lonely Love offered Armidale audiences an original Australian work and plenty to consider after the final curtain.
Lonely Love has two more weeks to run, with performances continuing through to Sunday, 23 August.
Caution: this production includes references to sexual assault and domestic violence.
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