Misery Loves Company
Meaningful. Heart-warming. Hilarious.
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Walking into the small theatre KXT on Broadway I did not know what to expect from Misery Loves Company, quite an unknown play.
It certainly did not disappoint.
After closely reading the program, I was surprised to find out that, at the age of 17, Isabella Reid wrote this play for her HSC Drama Major Work in 2022. It had its first staged reading in OnStage 2023, then was developed with Shopfront Arts Co-Op and The Department of Education’s The Arts Unit, bringing this full-length production to life. Reid's sheer connectedness to human experiences at such a young age was reflected vividly in ‘Misery Loves Company’. Her writing is to be commended and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
Mathew Lee directed the production, bringing his professional experience and a clear vision for the show. Ruby Jenkins’ set, costume and prop design transported us back to the 1970s to the family’s home in Ireland, with the floral wallpaper, piano and crosschecked blankets over couches.
The play itself expresses the idea that grief is better shared than experienced alone and the strength in togetherness. It consisted of 10 characters, mostly made up of the Glynne family. ‘Misery Loves Company’ focuses on a family gathering after Daphne passes away incorporating Irish traditions regarding a family death, such as a coffin in the family home. Each character brings a different perspective and attitude to this common experience of the death of a loved one at times creating conflict. It exposes the vulnerability and heartache of losing someone you love, sprinkled with relatable humour.
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Image by Clare Hawley
As you enter the theatre Gus (Lincoln Elliott) is dressed as a traditional European jester playing the guitar and piano exceptionally. As we enter Elliott allows the audience to guide the lyrics of his song in a fun participation experiment. Soon after this, we meet the Glynne family all singing and dancing with an array of instruments, starting the show with high energy.
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Image by Clare Hawley
We are introduced to the Gylnne family, including Daphne’s siblings, Henry (Paul Grabovac) and Dolores (Linda Nicholls-Gidley). Who are experiencing grief in different ways–Henry losing the plot and Dolores simply acting tough. We also meet Henry’s naive teenage daughter Cecila (Lib Campbell) and young son, Ernie (Clay Crighton). Clayton expressed a playful and physical characterisation of a young child that was extremely believable. Dolores's daughter, Niamh (Rachel Seeto) is the family rebel and builds tension throughout the play with their cousin the goody-goody Cecila. Annie Stafford is Jackie, Daphne's daughter who is a stand-out in the production and a vital part of this family gathering. The narrator of the play is Father John (Michael Yore) who is a key character in setting the scene and is an important part of the Irish religious culture. Jasper (Teale Howie) is not blood-related to the Glynne family but by the end of the play is taken under their wing and finds a love interest in the family. Jasper is Pa George’s (Mark Langham) caretaker who is Daphne’s father. Pa George is the backbone of this family, struggling with dementia. Overall the cast brought their own unique life and acting experiences that complimented each other, creating an exceptional production. The casting of this show was just perfect.
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Images by Clare Hawley
The play ends after some major conflict within the Glynne household where they reflect on all the stories they remember Daphne by, from swing dancing and a newfound exploration of lesbianism. ‘Misery Loves Company’ incorporates traditional Irish songs from the start to the end of the play, which unifies characters in their collected experience of grief. ‘Misery Loves Company’ was touching and very impressive in many ways for its first production.
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Image by Clare Hawley
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Legit Theatre Co. have just added another performance of Misery Loves Company 3pm on Saturday 18th May.
Get tickets here!
