A moving production of Pictures of You
I found Pictures of You a deeply moving production. Surprising, since there is no dialogue and no facial expression. There is a sound track by sound artist James Webb which adds a huge element to the production - but not a word is spoken by either of the characters. Also the actors wear masks ( by Janni Younge), so all meaning has to be conveyed through gesture and movement. Liezl Kock and Dorian Burstein do this extremely effectively as they let us in to a marriage that initially looks as if it's working like clockwork.
Pictures of You is directed by Rob Murray and he describes the play as a “dramatic love story that explores the pleasure, pain, mistakes and forgiveness that govern our responses to being in love”. Masks, puppets, a sparse set, images and symbols and the soundscape work with the characters to touch the audience in unexpected ways. As the play progresses we get to see the dreams, hopes, disappointments and redemptions of Frank and Janet's marriage.
Perhaps Pictures of You is so compelling because there is so much space for individual audience interpretation. The production gives us rich imagery which lingers after the scene ends, and which we are able to invest with our own experiences of relationship. We are taken into familiar places, but places that are presented in such unfamiliar, but richly symbolic ways that we are touched in ways that stay with us long after the play has ended.
Do yourself a favour and let Pictures of You touch your life.
