REVIEW: McGuffin Park

November 06, 2024

 

 

McGuffin Park
Presented by Ensemble Theatre
Reviewed by Mariika Mehigan 

Ambition, ego and optimism collide in Ensemble Theatre’s recent production of McGuffin Park. While its message relevant and its delivery charming, McGuffin Park falls short in truly digging deep into the rich and complex world of Australian democracy.  

At the start of McGuffin Park, written by Sam O’Sullivan and directed by Ensemble Theatre’s Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry, we see a town in disarray, reeling from a recent act of drunk-driving and vandalism in the local park. A ‘dead fig tree’ is toppled, chairs strewn and a lectern placed in the middle placed in front of background a familiar small-town shopfront.  

 

 

We enter the small Australian town of McGuffin on the cusp of the mid-term election, when the mayor suddenly resigns leaving the rest of the council scrambling to replace him. At the heart of the story is the life-long friendship between Jack (Shan-Ree Tan) and Fiona (Eloise Snape). Both members of the council for different parties — Jack, a member of a major political party (“that shall go unnamed for the sake of political neutrality") and Fiona, an independent. A mild gender commentary is folded into this storyline, as Fiona is initially reluctant to volunteer herself for mayor, believing herself ‘unqualified.’ With Jack’s encouragement, she works up the nerve to volunteer yet is shocked when Jack does the same. Bubbling in the background is a conscientious local reporter (Lizzie Schebesta) who unveils the truth behind the McGuffin Park incident.  

 

 

In his direction, director Mark Kilmurry playfully embraces the potential of theatre and form, injecting the techniques of Brecht throughout the production — actors self-awarely respond to the story, comically interrupt the actors, or explain certain political jargon. The actors are dressed in similar charcoal grey shirts as they seamlessly jump between the multiple personalities that comprise McGuffin’s local council; there’s Eric (Jamie Oxenbould), the mildly pushy owner of the local pub, Bridget (Thomas Campbell), the stern deputy Mayor or Susan (Lizzie Schebesta), the stubborn yet passionate organiser of the local McGuffin Festival.  

 

 

Disappointingly, McGuffin Park comprised a team at the top of their craft. The actors were precise, the direction and production elements clear and the script carefully constructed, however, many of its pertinent themes felt cautiously approached. While I applaud the production for providing a much-needed comedic and accessible take on Australian politics, I only wish the story had a little more bite.  

 

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McGuffin Park is playing at Ensemble Theatre until 20 November 2024. Tickets can be purchased here.

Images by Prudence Upton