Colder follows the story of David, a non-committal urban wanderer who has a knack for getting lost. He disappeared for hours when he was a child in Disneyland and much to the anguish of his best friend, boyfriend and mother he has managed to do it again in the mean streets of Sydney many years later. The story then delves into the emotional anguish surrounding his disappearance, intermingled with flashbacks to the fateful afternoon in the theme park.

One of the main shortcomings of this show, which centres on the theme of loss, is that the actual disappearance of David is not at all disconcerting for the audience. The lack of connection meant that the entire play’s message of devastation failed to ring true to an audience who tried hard to find some form of common ground with the performers onstage, but were thwarted at every turn.

This issue is not one that plagues David alone. Most of the cast have difficulty reaching the audience as huge sections of the text designed to present their personal tragedy berate us with overly poetic language. What results is a tendency to orate the extended passages and not speak them. Whilst this is an issue with the text, the delivery of the speeches failed to recognise any rhythms or tonality, leaving the audience faced with a wall of words. I suspect that the technique was supposed to be reminiscent of a chorus in a Greek tragedy, but such a technique needs to be broken up with accessible language and lighter moments to be truly effective in displaying the tragic consequences of real life.

The set was possibly one of the most evocative elements of the production. The bright blue stage and fluorescent lighting tried to meet the script halfway in establishing an atmosphere of discomfort and well, coldness. The ingenious idea of storing all the props in Tupperware containers creates eeriness that is never quite matched by anything else on the stage. That being said, there were moments where the dialogue’s briskness was amplified by the set, which helped to excuse the odd stray step into sentimentality.

Colder is particularly disappointing because it is obvious that the skills of both the writer and actors could create something much more powerful. It is a difficult line to tread. But infusing the characters with humanity and the script with the dark humour of life would not  necessarily be disrespectful to the real people who inspired the story. Rather, it would ensure that their true story is told and told well. With more risk and depth this is a story that could break our hearts.

Title: Colder

Location: SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross

Season: 1 - 24 May 2008

Bookings: MCA TIX 1300 306 776 or online at www.griffintheatre.com.au