Directed by Stephen Nicolazzo
Based on a novel by Christos Tsiolkas
Co Adapted by Christos Tsiolkas and Dan Giovannoni
Malthouse Theatre
9 May, 2023
I want to be mindful of what I say, given I believe the show was in previews. Although, I have only good things from my observations.
I came into this show knowing nothing at all, except for two things: 1. The delightful Danny Ball was in the cast (also didn’t realise he was the entire cast!), and 2. everyone I knew in Melbourne was buzzing about it (had tickets, knew someone who was going, etc). It was only on a whim that I looked at the ticket site after my flight got in, that I snapped up the last two tickets for the show that night (which was starting in 30 minutes).
The Malthouse Theatre is a cool venue – it reminds me of the Stables which hosts Griffin Theatre company shows. It’s a microbrewery(?) with one or more performance spaces (I didn’t have time to check it out, as I had only moments to spare)!
The set was an absolute wonderland – rotating, and other surprises I won’t spoil. The shape of the dramatic arches, the textured curtain – it was fascinating to observe.
Very quickly I realised this would be a “one-man show”. This could go horribly wrong in inexperienced hands but having seen Ball previously in The Italians (soon to be streaming on Aussie Theatre Live – would recommend!), I had no doubts he’d carry this easily.
And carry it he did! He enticed the audience showing the flirtatious side of Ari, and mustered the false bravado of his character whilst juggling other fleshed out ‘roles’. I would pay to watch a web series of Ball performing the vegan girlfriend character, I’m just saying.
I was unfamiliar with the novel, as well as the film Head On (which apparently was based on the novel), so I was surprised at some of the racier references. I had just unclenched my pearls when I realised it got a LOT MORE risqué as the play went on. I wasn’t prepared for the how much was laid bare (both emotionally as well as the actors oft-bared torso); in amateur hands this might have been awkward but Nicolazzo and Ball were adept at bringing to life these personal experiences inspired from the source material.
I could spend paragraphs and pages gushing about Danny Ball, but I’ll leave it that, in addition to being an imminently talented actor, he could also easily be a hair model – his thick locks were his unofficial costar.
I hardly need to tell you to get tickets to Loaded, as it seems most of Melbourne already has, but I will plead once more for a Sydney transfer so this amazing piece can be enjoyed by more audiences.