The air in the Old Fitz is cold and still. As we settle in, two characters in trackie dacks and hoodies appear and stand in front of their respective chairs. They are Rookie Lee and his namesake, Howie Lee. However, this is vital information that, at this point, the audience is yet to get wind of, and will evidently spend a bum-itchingly long time waiting for it to be revealed.
A solid ‘thank you’ to the Aboriginal landowners by Andrew Henry (Howie) and in seconds Howie’s spinning into monologue as Rookie sits silently on his side of the stage (read: story). Almost immediately Henry’s accent changes ring Irish. The tongue is thick enough to be believable, but not so strong that it impairs our ability to comprehend words. He draws us in with his endless energy as he regales us with tales of sexual encounters in bar bathrooms with a monster of a woman called Avalanche.
We stare at Rookie. He stares back at times, and we ponder where his part comes in. The question of ‘When will dialogue will begin?’ distracts us at times we probably shouldn’t be distracted, as all the while he turns his head and sips his beer. It’s all a little unnerving and confounding – but that’s alright because his part makes it all come full circle.
When Howie finally goes silent, Rookie (Sean Hawkins) takes his cue. He begins in a much faster, less settled accent. To be fair, this is difficult for someone who’s been a silent player onstage for half an hour. Eventually, though, his accent does settle, and we’re able to follow his version of the story. It’s about getting on the wrong side of a dangerous thug after accidentally stepping on his Siamese fighting fish and having to hustle for the money to pay him back. It’s about contracting an itch in the nether regions that slowly takes over. And it’s about how the infamous Howie (now revealed, now explained) sweeps in like an angel to come to Rookie’s rescue.
The plot may not be the easiest thing to follow, and the lack of interaction may serve more to distract and confuse rather than intrigue and seduce, but what really shines here is the strength and command of both its actors. Bravo.
3/5 stars
Howie The Rookieis playing at the Old Fitzroy Theatre until Saturday October 25.
