Review By Rowan Brunt
Sitting in the Wharf 1 Theatre at Sydney Theatre Company, configured in the innovative in-the-round style that many productions are embracing, the audience was enveloped in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. However, this tranquility was abruptly shattered when the lights were extinguished like a gust blowing out a candle, plunging us into the stark coldness of Ella Hickson's "Oil," a play by one of Britain's most exciting and boundary-pushing playwrights. Without the luxury of a gradual fade-out or a welcoming introduction, we were thrust headfirst into this production, directed by STC's Director of New Work & Artistic Development, Paige Rattray, and the rest of the play continued to challenge and engage us with its innovative approach.
"Oil" explores two intertwined narratives that span time and place: the rise and fall of the oil industry and its profound impact on the world, from the Industrial Age to an uncertain future, and the dynamic and evolving relationship between a mother and daughter as they navigate life's challenges. The play unfolds in five distinct segments, each set in a different era, but the focus remains on the central mother-daughter bond. The story charts the discovery, distribution, exploitation, and eventual demise of the oil trade, revealing the human tendency to plunder and exploit resources for personal gain. In parallel, we meet May (Brooke Satchwell) in an English farmhouse, devoid of heat but filled with the warmth of a fire and the anticipation of her unborn child, Amy (Charlotte Friels). When a stranger knocks at her door, offering the prospect of a new beginning, May seizes the opportunity, risking everything to secure a better future for her unborn daughter and departs into the cold winters night, with only a oil lantern to guide her.
The play employs several innovative theatrical devices that effectively complement the story of rise and fall. Throughout the five acts, we witness recurring motifs: the stranger's arrival, presenting a new development and a choice; a friend, lover, or comrade who must be sacrificed for the daughter's prosperity; and the underlying belief that the cyclical nature of human nature will inevitably lead us back to the beginning. These repetitive theatrical elements serve as anchors for the audience, providing a sense of familiarity as we navigate through time jumps and grapple with the complex political and economic implications of the oil trade. The murmurs during the interval suggested that some audience members questioned whether the play depicts a single relationship or a series of mother-daughter relationships throughout history that share a common narrative, the confusion was felt. However, Hickson's writing masterfully blurs this distinction, rendering the question irrelevant. Regardless of intention, the intricate weaving of narrative, the attention to detail, and the specific direction given to the core relationship by Rattray compel us to move beyond the need for definitive answers and simply trust in the investment.
The production boasts a large ensemble cast (Saif Alawadi, Violette Ayad, Jing-Xuan Chan, Callan Colley, Josh McConville, Benedict Samuel, Damien Strouthos, Anne Tenney), each member skillfully embodying various characters who share similarities across the five acts. Violette Ayad has a quite presence in all her roles with a deep seeding passion underneath which is one to look out for. We encounter recurring characters or echoes of past characters who resurface in different forms to challenge and propel the narrative forward. Hickson possesses a remarkable gift for crafting dialogue that flows effortlessly when needed and cuts sharply when necessary. A personal highlight is the third act exchange between May and Amy's new boyfriend. The clever narrative thread woven by May to drive this young man out of her daughter's life and ultimately into her own trap is a testament to her cunning and resourcefulness.
Satchwell, making her STC debut, delivers a captivating performance as May. Her portrayal is unwavering throughout the piece, embodying a calculated and resilient woman who constantly adapts and evolves with the narrative, looking for her opportunity to move forward. Her ability to seamlessly transition from a young wife with child to an elderly woman on the brink of sanity is a testament to her deep understanding of the character's complexities.
"Oil" is a remarkable piece of theatre that seamlessly interweaves the human condition with global issues of conquest, land, and legacy. The deft handling of grand theatrical devices and complex global concepts is a testament to the production team's skill and commitment. While the play's scope may not be entirely innovative, it serves as a prime example of how exceptional writing, combined with astute direction, can produce captivating and thought-provoking theatre.
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