THEATRE REVIEW: Tell Me...Lies [Theatre Buff]

Theatre Buff

Behind the scenes after the final curtain call...

THEATRE REVIEW: Tell Me...Lies

Posted on May 7, 2008 12:37 PM
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Tell Me…Lies
Arts Theatre
7 May 2008

Review by Zarina Raja

Tell Me…Lies is a production depicting mental illness. The play itself stays away from dramatic scenes of madness by subtlety locating mental illness in the life of Abi. It reveals the everyday tussles that one may face when they are confronting mental illness.

The play centres around Abi and Emma, two bereaved sisters, who are struggling to come to terms with the death of their mother.

Emma - the sister with a successful career, boyfriend, and the ability to process her grief - is torn between wanting to help Abi and getting frustrated with her irrational and sometimes selfish behaviour.

From the audience’s point of view, Abi is desperately trying to get back on track after her mother’s death. It appears that she has two friends to help her out, Fleur and Matt. Fleur, however, is not the person that we think she is.

As a sad and slightly unnerving plot begins to unravel, it becomes apparent that Abi is having trouble staying in reality. Various scenes engulf the audience, sucking them into Abi’s confused mind. We witness her fighting with Fleur – who is actually a figment of Abi’s imagination – and grappling with what is in her head and what is real.

The cast have done well in creating a strong group of characters that are well suited to their personalities. Fleur is loud, irritating and unavoidable; emphasizing the fact the Abi is unable to clear her from her thoughts.

Tell Me... Lies is careful not to dramatise madness. It is a soft interpretation that focuses on the understated – yet devastating – effects of mental illness.

Death is a key theme that is threaded into Tell Me…Lies, soaking the production with an undeniably lingering sadness.

Matt, Abi’s boyfriend (or so she believes) is also dealing with the death of his mother, who died during child birth. He channels his grief in a positive way by collecting – and stealing – small, colourful boxes, a hobby that he has adopted from his mother.

Tell Me…Lies is a thoughtful insight into the life of someone wrestling with darker corners of their mind.

Related links:
Tell Me... Lies official site.
The ArtsTheatre.