Comment 123350

By RayL (registered) | Posted July 25, 2018 at 08:31:01

Photographic Evidence is an entirely satisfying reexamination of of the cultural moment we currently inhabit, from the land acknowledgement read at the beginning by actor Lisa Nasson, to the call to live into that acknowledgement at the end. The question is: what are we to acknowledge? This is the question that Deverell asks in this somewhat documentary history play.

That Nasson speaks the land acknowledgement in an otherwise colonial world has a kind of resonance in a post TRC world. Deverell and Nasson both clearly understand that the indigenous voice here has to be strong and contemporary. Nasson, fortunately, has the chops to carry off the roles she plays. Her role is alternately within the colonial landscape and fluidly contemporary. Her smart phone photography acts in contemporary counterpoint to the staged period portraiture of Geraldine (projected on the back wall of the space). It is her role that ties the whole play together. It is her story too.

The central tension of the play lies not with the external character of John, but within Geraldine herself. True, she adapts to the role of wife and mother but the central energy of her character lies in her final acceptance of her own place in the story. How many of us would have the courage to do what she does? John acts rather as the figure against which she finally rebels. In this role Kat White is strong, passionate and articulate. She is always in the moment which makes her a delight to watch.

The costumes and props deserve a mention too -- the period camera, and articles of clothing all help to place us into a world that we are somewhat familiar with, even as Deverel destabilizes our expectations in what happens there. The polish of the piece allows us to rest into the experience.

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