The Present
From: Tuesday, 18th August 2009
To: Saturday, 5 September 2009
Our Review: 
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Synopsis
Nietzche, Lennon, and art and hippy disillusionment combine in a young man’s surreal journey of self discovery. Set in Melbourne, Australia in the immediate aftermath of John Lennon's assassination in December 1980. Eighteen year old Danny is taken under the wing of predatory con-man Michael and his mysterious polyamorous bisexual acquaintances, Libby and Becky. Embroiled in a drug induced art world, he is molded and manipulated. Fantasy blurs with reality and using mind games they force him to relive moments from his past.
Our Review:
21 August 2009
This is the first revival of The Present since it premiered at the Bush in 1995. Nick Ward’s play is a nostalgic homage to the lost hippy dream, a love letter to John Lennon that somehow remains fresh, funny and poignant.
Set in 1980, days after the assassination of John Lennon, the play tells the story of Danny, an English teenager in Australia. Michael, an aging hippy and cynical art dealer, takes the boy under his wing and introduces him to a world of sex, drugs and modern installation art. The feeling is of a latter day Dorian Gray.
This four-hander showcases some very good acting. As Michael, Nathan Godkin is electric, hilarious and very creepy. Shelly Lang, playing the man-eating lesbian Becky, gives one of the best performances I have ever seen on the Fringe. She creates a character who is at once both larger than life and totally believable.
Max Lindsay however is woefully miscast as Danny. This character hinges on th...
Creative
Nick Ward (Author)
Good Night Out (Producer)
Adam Spreadbury-Maher (Director)
Steve Lowe (Lighting)
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