The Distance from Here is the latest production from Perth theatre company Endless Theatre Company. Written by American director, screenwriter and playwright Neil LaBute, the play is a dark and at times brutal look at life on the fringes of suburbia, a tale populated by disenchanted youth and their extended families. Though set in suburban American, the sad reality is, this story could take place anywhere in the world; Australia included.
It’s safe to say the play is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea; certainly it’s not the kind of play you’re going to take your Nanna to go see, unless of course she doesn’t mind a bit of nudity, incest and infanticide. It’s safe to say by the end of the play I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, most of who were pretty much completely irredeemable. In fact when the play came to close, there was a moment of silence from a slightly shell-shocked audience before the audience broke into applause.
Despite not liking any of the characters, I was impressed with the quality of the performances from the entire cast. Jordan Gallagher was impressive as lead protagonist Darrell; infusing the dysfunctional teen with a brooding menace. Nic Doig also put in a strong performance as Darrell’s “best-friend” Tim, his portrayal of the put-upon teen is spot on, and it probably his character that comes out the best from the play. But really it was a great ensemble performance, with the entire cast working well together; bringing sense of realism to the familial relationships and friendships.
Another aspect of the production that I really enjoyed was the set design, the use of the moveable scaffolding units allowed for easy transition between varying locations, whilst also giving the audience a feeling of urban decay. Furthermore, given the play was being presented in one of the rehearsal spaces, I felt the moveable set, allowed the cast to make the most of the somewhat limited performance space afforded them.
The Distance From Here is an uncomfortable and confronting production to watch; well acted and well presented, but confronting and hard viewing. The Distance From Here also provided me with an introduction to a theatre company, that were previously unknown to me. But if this production is anything to go by, I will be aiming to see much more of their work in the future.
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