A man sits reading in a room, surrounded by artefacts of a past era; a record player, an unfinished abstract oil painting; a rotary telephone. He’s a counsellor (Cha Hyun-suk, who also wrote and directed the play) and he is expecting a patient. His patient (Taesik Shim) is to be his last before he retires for good.
But as the intrigue builds, we learn that the two have a past before this encounter – one the counsellor will find hard to bridge with his patient. And yet, he promises to heal him.
Black and White Tearoom – Counsellor is a game of emotional cat and mouse, as each vie for the upper hand in this tortuous relationship. The counsellor is calm and resigned; the patient, excitable and angry. During their time together, they must learn from each other and then, maybe, they can build a mutual trust.
The action unfolds in real time over the course of the patient’s visit, with the story revealing gradually as we watch. As spectators, we can do nothing more but to bear witness. There are certainly moments of high tension. Both actors skilfully play their roles, and the audience learns to have empathy for both men’s positions. And yet, amongst all the drama, are moments of lightness and happiness – even with a constant state of agitation in the room.
Black and White Tearoom – Counsellor is a gripping tale of tensions between two people caught in an almost war-like situation, vying for victory over the other, and trying to make sense of something that refuses to be made sense of. Proof that not everything can be in black and white.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Black and White Tea Room – Counsellor plays as part of the Adelaide Korean Season of Adelaide Fringe.
Performances run at the Arts Theatre in Angus Street until Mar 18. You can find tickets and more info HERE.
