★★★
In an indie theatre version of musical chairs, the Old 505 Theatre has set up shop at 5 Eliza Street, Newtown.
Warming up the space is The Best Brothers, written by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor and directed by Gareth Boylan. The play teases out the comedy of an absurd tragedy, excavating family tensions and rivalries along the way.
Siblings Kyle (Sean Lynch) and Hamilton (Johann Walraven) have been reunited by the shock death of their eccentric mother, Bunny, who was fatally crushed by a rogue (and obese) drag queen in the midst of a gay pride march. As the pair manage the funeral and set Bunny’s affairs in order, their strained relationship is stretched to breaking point as they wrestle for the vestiges of maternal love. At the centre of the conflict is Bunny’s beloved Italian greyhound, Enzo, who becomes a bone of contention between the two boys.
The brothers work on opposite sides of the housing industry – Hamilton is an architect while Kyle is a real estate agent. Lynch is a snug character fit as the breezy and easily baffled Kyle, while Walraven’s Hamilton is more hard-edged – full of pent-up frustration channelled through a passive-aggressive manner. The dynamic between them feels right but the pace of their dialogue could be sharper.
There is some poignant scriptwriting, from Hamilton’s rant about Lego becoming too prescriptive to the wry and witty musings of the deceased Bunny. These interspersed monologues are performed by both actors, who alternate between slipping on silver gloves in order to mimic the delicate snobbery of their mother.
On the whole, this play could pack more punch. There are genuinely wonderful moments of comic timing – the eulogy scene is hilarious. However, there is a lag in momentum that brings down the entire energy of the performance.
The Best Brothersis playing at the Old 505 Theatre until Saturday April 30.
