Silo Theatre
Review: Susan Budd
If Dirty City were not a comedy, it would be a modern tragedy.
A successful businesswoman is brought to the brink of disaster by life in the fast lane.
Craving the warmth of human contact, she humiliates herself in desperate sexual ploys to gain the attention of an indifferent artist.
Her lover adds insult to injury by dumping her and leading a putsch to supplant her as head of their corporation.
Her 29-year-old son is trapped in the behaviour and emotional maturity of a 9-year-old.
She is incapable of making a decision without consulting a guru, mute apart from intoning "Om" at intervals.
But this is farce, slick and manic.
Margaret-Mary Hollins, power-suited to rival Jenny Shipley, commands the stage as Cynthia Turnbulls. Agile as an acrobat, she cavorts on the boardroom table, preens and purrs like a big cat and pursues her prey with single-minded determination.
Seldom without a cheesy grin, she is terrifying and very funny.
Mistress of the quick change, she parades before a sculptor in ever-decreasing costumes, forcing him to flight through her sexy undulations and deep-throated roars. It is comedy of embarrassment as she alternately flaunts her sexuality and bullies a succession of gobsmacked men.
Jonathan Brugh, who is her equal in the art of quick change, plays the assorted blokes. He shines as the guru, wrapped in a big shawl, his eyes rolling in answer to each question.
As the son in ghastly scenic jumper, he bobs and bustles to great effect. And as a ruthless corporate man he displays a perfect blend of overweening ambition and fake modesty.
It is inevitable that Cynthia wins the day. The scene in which she munches through a bread roll while weeping and haranguing a boardroom table and its entourage of spineless usurpers is marvellous.
Dirty City is almost a satire, but for the mania of its comedy and the fact that, despite all her ghastliness, Cynthia is essentially admirable and more than a little likeable.
It is also splendidly, joyously over the top, revelling in the fun and games of power.
The show contines until Saturday.
<i>Perfomance:</i> Dirty City
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