WA’s Arena Theatre Productions delivered an ambitious show with Ben Elton’s Silly Cow. Featuring a colourful array of characters on the stage, this production played out like a British comedy. Reminiscent of shows like Absolutely Fabulous where the lines are delivered with a tone of mockery which doesn’t give hints to the punchline. It relied on an attentive audience to hang on to every word to pick up the humour as the actors were reluctant to make it easy for you to find cues to laugh. It played out as both flamboyant and deadpan in two stylistically strange bedfellows.
The witty dialogue needed a strong cast for it to land. The hearty script was delivered with comedic gestures that could have been noticed by a myopic person in the back row who forgot their glasses. The vibrant set design was brought to life by Callum Vinsen and immediately pulled you into the scene with loud but uncomplicated pieces.
Ben Elton’s Silly Cow. Photography supplied.
Sharon Mobilia’s performance as Deborah/Delilah stood out. While nearly every character revealed a twist at the end, her character had the most foreboding. She played an accountant with a thespian air about her that was well developed. With other characters including a toy boy, a self-obsessed reviewer, a timid and naive personal assistant, and a sleazy and untrustworthy editor, it is easy for an actor to drown in the details. Such characters were certainly delivered with gusto but didn’t quite match the potential of the respective actors. As an ensemble they worked together quite well, with consistent pacing that flowed easily, a testament to Simon James’ direction.
It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there and present such an audacious production and I applaud their enthusiasm. Spending an hour or so on stage and exposing your perspective to so many people is no small feat. How many people shrivel at the thought of public speaking in their own skin, let alone persuading an audience that you’re wearing someone else’s?
Silly Cow is showing at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre from 4 to 11 October.