Strangers in the night

By MELANYA BURROWS

Sex With Strangers is an attention-grabbing phrase, and the title of a new play opening tonight at the Herald Theatre.

The production enjoyed brisk, pre-sale business before its diverse and talented cast was even announced, seemingly lured by the title. And before production funding was even confirmed, director Colin Mitchell was approached by actors keen to be involved.

Sex With Strangers presents eight vignettes that examine the "morning after" and the issues that arise after a night of shared physical intimacy.

Billed as an honest look at the consequences of human sexual interaction, it explores everything from rejection, confession, celebration, and self-loathing to self-discovery.

It is an ensemble work on many levels. Four writers worked on it, handing over scripts which have been developed and workshopped by the actors and director Mitchell.

It has a cast of 13, which includes familiar stage and screen faces such as Danielle Cormack, Stuart Devenie, Pua Magasiva, Anna Hutchison and Madeleine Sami, as well as relative newcomers such as Andi Crown, Barnie Duncan, Nathan Meister and Benjamin Farry. It also has audio-visual elements, fleshing out the size of the crew.

Mitchell, who came up through the ranks of SiLo Theatre and was Auckland Theatre Company director of development programmes, says the project started with the name.

"We thought it was an interesting phrase with a lot of possibilities, and it would be nice to attach a project to it," he says. "I worked with producer Makerita Urale and writer Mario Gaoa last year and really enjoyed it, and I thought it would be great to do a big ensemble piece for the end of the year.

"We would put it on for just four days, so there would be no time for people to get bored of the project or sick of each other. Everyone would be really fresh and excited.

"I'd also been watching a lot of British comedy around the same time, and was interested in how relationship-driven it was."

Mitchell compares the style of the play to the recently released Jim Jarmusch film Coffee and Cigarettes.

"The play has eight completely separate chapters, but the scenario is the same in each one, starting with two people who have just slept together.

"There is every combination of age, gender and sexuality, and the situations get increasingly surreal. Because these couples have just met and had sex, all the roles in the relationship are up for grabs, all the dynamics are yet to be set. That is a really nice place for drama and comedy to happen."

Mitchell is looking forward to opening night. The eight stand-alone scenes meant there was no need for him to rehearse the cast together until a week ago. It has been a fascinating week for director, cast and crew alike.

"Production week is always the most exciting part of any production, because each day you add new elements. The lighting, the sound, the set, any audio-visual and, finally, the audience itself. And this time it has been exciting to see the pieces all fit together, and for the actors to see what everyone else has been doing."

Actor Andi Crown is revelling in her involvement in the play. Her character is a Kiwi woman who beds a Norwegian backpacker. Her vignette examines the complications and humour that language and cultural barriers add to the usual post-coital issues.

"I'm a big fan of ensemble work, as an actor and an audience member," she says. "You never get bored because there is always something new coming up, someone doing something different.

"There is something about working with a big group of people that is great. Everyone has different ways of working and brings a different dynamic to the production.

"This week is really exciting because in Sex With Strangers you know you are a cog, you are part of something, and you know the common element which pulls them all together.

"But we've all been working hard on our own pieces, independently of the rest of the cast. I had a basic idea about each of the stories and who was in each vignette, but no idea whether they were going to be funny and moving or dark and depressing."

As the cast has inhabited the characters and the work, Mitchell has been thrilled to see how funny and bittersweet Sex With Strangers has become.

"It's an intriguing work, because you could arrange the same eight vignettes in a different order and you would have a totally different play."

On stage

*What: Sex With Strangers

*Where and when: Herald Theatre, Nov 17-20