Mo and Jess Kill Susie – Basement Theatre
It is not hard to see why Gary Henderson is an award winning playwright after watching a performance of his psychological thriller Mo and Jess Kill Susie.
In 2013 Henderson was the recipient of the Playmarket Award, in which he was recognized as a playwright who has made a significant artistic contribution to theatre in New Zealand.
This play was first showcased in1996 where it won the Chapman Tripp Award for Best New Play. According to Henderson, the reaction from audiences at the time was of shock with many people leaving the theatre looking rather pale. I can understand why. As a result, Henderson took his play out of the public eye for eighteen years. Newly resuscitated The Theatre of Love is now proud to present Mo and Jess Kill Susie at the Basement Theatre. It’s back, it’s black and continues to shock its audience.
Not one to mess about with pre-amble, Henderson’s play starts at the guts of the situation with all three female actors in a basement. It’s hot. It’s uncomfortable. And only two of them are conscious. One of the women is passed out in a blood stained singlet, bound, gagged and tied to a chair. This is Susie, played superbly by English actor Sheena Irving.
Jess Sayer, (Elevator, Wings) kickstarts the show dramatically with a most compelling rendition of her character Mo. She’s a mouthy hard young woman whose stories make you squirm. The unraveling that takes place as the story unfolds helps you understand why. The interaction between her and fellow protester Jess, played exceptionally well by Darlene Mohekey (Shipwrecked!), is like watching a great game of tennis.
The punchy, and at times confrontational dialogue, takes you on a dark journey into poverty, desperate decisions and despair as they prepare themselves for a deadly outcome. Maybe. Do they or don’t they….kill Susie? As they pass their time awaiting a phone call with instructions they have nothing to do but reveal aspects of their lives to each other.
The success of Henderson’s writing was evident in how many of the audience slowly started to sit up and cover their eyes as the actors began the lead up to the dramatic ending.
Directed by Short & Sweet 2013 James Wallace Trust Emerging Artist Award recipient,Matt Baker, is clearly a fan of Henderson’s work and it shows. He says: “Gary’s writing is like a poetic equation, it successfully stands by itself on the page.”
Sound of music this is not. If you want to experience a gritty, raw performance by three fantastic actors who do an outstanding job of bringing an edgy and volatile play to life. This is for you.
Moss and Jess Kill Susie is on at the Basement Theatre until 8 March.
Reviewed by Liz Constable