“Miracles” by Tobsha Learner
Presented by Eynesbury Senior College Stage 2 Drama
Directed by Aldo Longobardi
Holden Street Theatres, Hindmarsh
10th – 12th August, 2011
In times of earthly crisis, human beings have historically searched for spiritual guidance and enlightenment. Humankind has always searched for something external to believe in: God, spirits, Allah, saints, Jesus and now, ʻImmaculata Santiniʼ – a 30-something year old illiterate Italian migrant with a deformed foot and the power to heal!
When God speaks to her through her cash register at Trinity Supermarkets, scenes unseen since Jesus healed multitudes on the streets of Jerusalem make this unlikely heroine emerge as a new saviour.
Excommunicated by her Church for heresy and exploited by her employers for a quick buck ʻin the name of the Lordʼ, Immaculata learns about her true power and what it means to be both human and divine. Tobsha Learner’s modern day fable comments on the currency of religion and the power of belief in oneʼs chosen spirit, and in oneʼs self, as our heroine goes on a quest to seek the answer to the question “Who has authority over the soul…?”
The class of talented young actors and designers presented an innovative, engaging and poignant production of Learner’s play, and were joined by past and future Eynesbury Year 12 Drama students who came to help us off stage, Kelsey Wheaton (Stage 2 Drama, 2010) and Tori Sandercock (Stage 1 Drama, 2011). Ryan Merrett took on the creative role of multimedia design, using self created still images, animations and video to transform the dingy Trinity Supermarket into a magical and wonderful world of imagination and symbolism where talking cash registers float through clouds. Merrett’s design added an expressionistic effect as Immaculata (Katerina Frangos) opened up to the realisation of her own power and authority over her own soul.
Frangos gave the role of Immaculata a delicate poignancy and sincerity as the downtrodden woman who finally takes control of her life with the help of her unlikely companions; the homeless rights activist Pearl, played by Carla Bonanni, and the Metallica-obsessed hell-raiser Sparks, played by Jessica De Laurent. Bonanni portrayed her role in a manner which occasionally begged the audience to decide if she was real, imagined or spiritual, while De Laurent, who did well to perform the last two nights with a knee injury, brought energy and pathos to a lost girl who finds direction in her witness of Immaculata’s amazing story.
A number of students played multiple roles and succeeded in creating very different portrayals for each role, a challenge for even the most seasoned actors. Max Cooper drew audience sympathy night after night with his portrayal of the bumbly Mr Henderson through his awkward flirtations with Immaculata, while also playing the extreme contradictions of the Madonna-loving, golf-playing, dogma-upholding Fr O’Brien. Cooper’s O’Brien was an interesting contrast to his close ally, the rigid and skeptical social worker, Ruth, convincingly portrayed by Maddie Gaze. Glenn Mulders and Amy Rowe worked well together as the husband and wife duo, Clive and Ida Johnson, who own the unsuccessful supermarket. Rowe gave a balanced portrayal of the bossy non-believer with enough vulnerability to allow us to see her humanity, while Mulders was every bit the slimy, womanising, gambler who backs a winner in exploiting the miraculous power of Immaculata. Mulders also doubled as power-wielding Sargent Dobbs and was at his peak in the emotional scenes between Dobbs and his brother Lou, played by Josh Adamson. Adamson showed his versatility in playing a hopeless youth criminal to comic perfection, but it was in his scenes with Mulders that the production received its moments of pathos. Adamson and Mulders built tension in their scenes of two brothers carrying the scars of domestic abuse and violence at the hands of their father. Both actors captured the helplessness and powerlessness of addiction ultimately leading them to a place of healing when they allow themselves to be open to healing.
The Year 12 production is always a highlight of the Drama calendar as it is where the students really get to shine and to showcase. It was a wonderful experience to bring such a meaningful play to life with this talented group of students and the success of the production was evident in the animated response from our audiences each night. I wish these wonderful students all the very best for their future endeavours – on and off stage – and hope that they, like Immaculata, will discover their own powers and use them to shape their own destinies…
Aldo Longobardi
Drama Teacher