David Williamson’s 1987 hit Emerald City is the age-old tale of Sydney/Melbourne rivalry, played out onstage.
Colin (Mitchell Butel) is a successful screenwriter who’s just moved to the harbour city with his publisher wife Kate (Lucy Bell), and the couple navigate their way through the teething problems that come with it. Colin begins to become seduced by the lure of the bright lights when he meets Mike (Ben Winspear), a no-talent hack with a big mouth and a lot of contacts. The two work on a project together, while Colin struggles with the confusion and guilt of suddenly wanting money and power over credibility.
On both hands a love letter and a critique of Sydney’s hedonism and greed, the immediate thing about this play is how little has changed. The story nails the Sydney versus Melbourne debate, even 20 years on. Kate is distinctly Melburnian, all social conscience with arty friends, while Colin struggles to become part of his new home, or let it become part of him. When the tables turn, and Kate begins to smell power in her burgeoning career, Colin ventures further into a mess.
Butel brings a comedic paranoia to Colin, while Bell is patient and strong as Kate. Winspear gets extra props as an almost crazed Mike, having jumped into the role four days before the first performance after Marcus Graham’s illness forced him to pull out. The colourful set design by Ken Done is a beautiful addition to the play, and not only a tribute to Sydney but to the ’80s itself. Even the costumes are just retro enough to be cool again, and at times I wasn’t sure if I was watching a bunch of hip kids talk about how better the lattes are down south. In essence, though, this is a snapshot of a hopeful time for Australia, when successes like Crocodile Dundee and Done himself meant we were just beginning to be taken seriously as a culture abroad. The resulting teething problems are of a people not quite ready to handle them yet.
3.5/5 stars
Emerald City is playing at SBW Stables Theatre until Sunday December 6.
