Created by Will Bartolo and Rae Colquhoun-Fairweather
Mime, improvisation and physical theatre is the real masterpiece here and it’s a joy to behold
Reviewed by Billy Chapman
Flo Studios 88, Camperdown, Gadigal/Sydney.
Season 13 – 16 Feb 2025
https://events.humanitix.com/masterpiece/tickets
Hanging art is simple yet complex. The scope of the task is plain and clear. Yet the artwork demands many considerations: the composition; the placement; the lighting and the shadows; the grouping and the flow; do you want it at eye level, or do you want to draw the gaze elsewhere? Should you suspend the artwork altogether? Should it be isolated? This task is weighted on the pair of clowns (Will Bartolo and Rae Colquhoun-Fairweather) who became burdened with its undertaking. It agonises them for the full 55-minute run time of Masterpiece. This simple, yet complex task is the entire synopsis, and the simplicity of the plot is one of the production’s triumphs.
Masterpiece is done in mime, and borrows elements from clowning and physical theatre. It uses music to punctuate movements which is played on both keyboard and violin by musician James Tarbotton. It is a blended performance which is soon to depart for the Adelaide Fringe.
The pair of clowns constructed an Abbott-and-Costello dynamic – Bartolo’s character was austere, focused and earnest, while Colquohoun-Fairweather’s was blissfully whimsical. To begin, the metal roller door ground upward at the press of a button by the aloof musician. We saw the pair of clowns struggling to balance a large piece of art which is the centrepiece for the production.
The set was industrial, it suited the slapstick style of the performance and was littered with references to the art world. Witnessing the outside world emerge behind the pair as the roller door moved upward was a unique thrill for an inside production, and a nice gritty touch.
This pair have done what every production strives to achieve – a tangible plot, compelling stakes, palpable tension, and character development.
The music was a highlight. Tarbotton had a difficult task of timing the notes with the movement on stage, meaning they had to split their focus for most of the piece. This was impressive to behold.
The facial expressions of both actors told the story of their relationship. Colquohoun-Fairweather’s charming enthusiasm and Bartolo’s torment were the primary drivers of the audience’s laughter. Their energy was electric and they were a pleasure to watch.
My only point of note was that their timing was not flawless, in fact there were moments in which I think some slow and considered synchronicity would have been a worthwhile contribution. But here’s the counterpoint; the production fused elements of clowning and improvisation which lends itself to slapstick, unpredictable physicality, and this, the pair nailed.
After Colquohoun-Fairweather’s character had a brief affair with an audience member who assisted her in hanging the art, she gave Bartolo’s character a hug, which he reciprocated with a firm handshake in honour of his stubborn professionalism. When the art is hung, he gazed with admiration upon his work. This was my favourite moment in the production. It was a moment that stood for pride, for the fruits of labour, and the weight of a tangible goal. This joyous but wistful feeling was made possible by the immense struggle of the task, and it was wrought from the chemistry between Bartolo and Colquohoun-Fairweather.
Let’s go back to basics. This pair have done what every production strives to achieve – a tangible plot, compelling stakes, palpable tension, and character development. But the twist is that they achieved this without uttering a word; for that, they deserved their warm, hearty applause.
Theatre Thought: Let’s go back to basics. Is less sometimes more in the theatre world?
Creator/Performer/Producer: Rae Colquhoun- Fairweather & Will Bartolo
Musician: James Tarbotton
Assistant Producer: Laurie-Ann Fong-Wooley
Stage Manager: Jemma Sproul
All proceeds from this show will go directly towards funding the travel costs of the Masterpiece team to attend the 2025 Adelaide Fringe Festival!
Masterpiece is proudly supported by the Inner West Council, Legs On The Wall, Arts Unlimited & Flow Studios.
