Culture Club: Orphans (Queensland Theatre Company)

I once again delved into the upper echelon culture club and attended a closing night performance of the Queensland Theatre Company’s Orphans.

Orphans, the second play in the company’s inaugural Studio Season, once again lived up to the motto of being theatre that would challenge you.

It was a play that I struggled to watch.

I’m not saying the play was bad, quite the opposite actually, it just had no character that you could sympathise with or support for the entire duration and the subject matter was brutal.

The play deals with a couple at home having a celebratory dinner when the lady’s brother arrives at their house, covered in blood having witnessed a crime. The two hours that followed this tense opening had me literally on the edge of my seat and sickened by each character’s actions at different points of the play.

While I left the theatre feeling anxious and disgusted by the people I had just witnessed, I appreciated that the cast had done an extraordinary job. Which is good, as normally I can’t distinguish between someone’s portrayal of a difficult character and their own personality.

I had a passionate hatred of Kat Stewart because of her performance in Underbelly…until I watched her on Offspring and realised she wasn’t an awful person and fell in love with her. But I have digressed.

Orphans, was playing at the Bille Brown Studio, South Brisbane until last night…so sadly you missed out.

If you ever have the opportunity to see this play however, I strongly advise that you do. It’s tense, but worth it. Maybe have a wine before going in?