Extinction | Heath Ledger Theatre | Until Oct 4
★ ★ ★ 1/2
The Australian Tiger Quoll, a species on the brink of extinction, binds the world of Hannie Rayson’s ‘Extinction’ together. A story of the natural world, humanity and what lays in between, Rayson’s play explores the near unnavigable moral and personal human quandaries of our relationship with the environment and its ecosystems.
‘Extinction’ tells a global story from an Australian perspective. The story begins with Harry Jewell (Matt Dyktynski) bundling an injured Tiger Quoll into a wildlife shelter along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, where he finds Dr. Piper Ross (Hannah Day) and veterinarian Andy Brown (Myles Pollard). Learning the creature is on the brink of extinction, Jewell – a wealthy mining magnate, is stirred by the Quoll’s plight and meets with Piper’s boss and Andy’s sister, Heather Dixon-Brown (Sarah McNeill), level-headed ecologist and director of the CAPE Institute and becomes entangled in the world of these three very different environmental warriors.
As the story unfolds, the human drama takes the forefront of the narrative, the Quoll being the catalyst which began the working relationships of this disparate and passionate collective. Piper, Heather and Andy all take varied but strong stances on Jewell’s offer to assist the environment with his mining money. Heather’s pragmatism, Piper’s bleeding heart and Andy’s staunch opposition stage a perfect allegory for the difficulties humanity faces in understanding how best to conserve and work with the environment for the greater good.
Allegory is an effectively wielded tool in Rayson’s story, as we see Andy’s relationship with his sister and girlfriend breakdown as he struggles with a terminal illness – as the Quoll faces non-existence, so must Andy. The audience is made aware of Andy’s deteriorating state by dialogue with his sister, and the dramatic irony brings strength to the on stage relationships between Andy and his three compatriots.
The first act saw a number of quick and effective scene transitions, with a large movable block making for an operating table, desk and couch. A projection on the stage marked for the audience whether the scene was set in Victoria’s forests or Heather’s inner-city apartment. The second act featured a short scene in nature, with a pristine forest cast upon the stage evoking an effective illusion of the natural world.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with the system that shifted the set around stage – which led to actor Myles Pollard dashing off-stage at such great speed I thought I had missed an important plot point. After a short wait, Pollard resumed the scene as if nothing had happened and disbelief remained suspended. The performances were strong throughout the production, with McNeill and Pollard stealing the show with their great talent for raw emotion and well-timed humour.
‘Extinction’ is a tale with no heroes or villains, rather four people trying to do what they believe is right for the world and right for themselves. A story grounded in reality, ‘Extinction’ is an entertaining and solemn reminder that we too are animals of instinct.
Extinction will be at the Heath Ledger Theatre until 4th October 2015. Tickets available from Ticketek or call 1300 364 001
Leigh Hill
Photograph: Cameron Etchells
