Doing the block
Written by John Romeril
Music by Irene Vela
Directed by David Carlin
Thursday to Saturday until May 28
George Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre, Melbourne
Reviewed by Sofi Chapman
The "block" in question is a Melbourne apartment block where social worker Archie (played by Tom Lewis) tries to help the tenants come to grips with past grief and contemporary torments.
"Melbourne at night is a city of shadows ..." For Hector (Petru Gheorghu), it is always the same nightmare: dreams of dancing with a beautiful woman in the 1950s in Santiago are interrupted by memories of torture in Argentina.
Ninh (Minh Ha) wanders the same apartment block singing the lullabies of her home, Vietnam. Her son Nam (Kha Viet Tran) has just been to Vietnam against her wishes, and is recovering from having stepped on an old land mine, just as she is still recovering from the past.
Hector's niece Carmen (Carmen Mascia) is determined to see her unstable uncle despite her parents' wishes — there was a split in the family during the Spanish Civil War.
Neither the younger nor the older generation is idealised in this tale of struggle and reconciliation. As Archie says, "We're all doing the block, still in transit until they give us a room in the underground motel". His job is not an easy one — "I don't get paid enough to find dead bodies" — but in the final scene his four friends send him on a mystery tour in token of their appreciation.
Hector and Minh remember when they first came to Australia, and it seemed like paradise. He falls to the ground and tries to find the place where he first kissed Australian soil, while she reminisces aloud.
They don't share the embarrassment of the young people, who haven't reached the realisation that Minh and Hector have over the years. As Hector says, "While you're alive you still have a chance, while you're alive you're part of the dance". Dance is symbolic of freedom, acceptance of culture and reconciliation with the past. Carmen dances with Hector, and it is hoped that Nam will soon be able to dance, since he is learning to walk without crutches.
This is a very down to earth and engaging play. Music is an integral part of the action, ranging from contemporary to tangos and traditional Vietnamese songs, with great performances from actors and musicians, and some surprising and innovative set techniques.