Concrete Playground

Parlour Song is an exercise in suburban surrealism, the stuff of American Beauty and Desperate Housewives. Exploring the tangled web between three neighbours in two couples, the plot swerves between the utterly unbelievable and the eerily relatable. Dale is a lovable larrikin, responsible for a car wash chain and the mental stability of his eccentric friend, Ned. Ned's difficulties stem from a deteriorating relationship with his wife and the absurdity of his belongings consistently disappearing without explanation. The plot thickens as Dale becomes entangled in Ned and Joy's relationship, making it impossible for him to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground.

Imagery permeates the script as well as the production, with recurring references to lemons, scrabble and demolition. Carefully constructed soundscapes interact with projected video, turning what could be a tacky YouTube-watching section into a strangely moving experience. Matt Dyktynski channels his stand-up comedy skills in his portrayal of Dale, an often hilarious performance which serves as the linchpin of this production — but the star is the script itself. English playwright Jez Butterworth's reputation precedes him; the twists, turns and tender moments of Parlour Song prove it's all deserved.

Image by Patrick Boland.