Latest news with #TheSpareRoom
Sydney Morning Herald
21-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Twenty must-visit bars in the world's top cities (plus five in Australia)
The Thai capital is all about rooftop bars, and not just any rooftop – we're talking sky-high rooftops, hundreds of metres above the honk and glitter of the Bangkok streets. One of the best of these is Sky, an open-air bar on the 63rd floor of the Lebua building, a place jam-packed with wow factor from the moment you step out of the lift. The views up here are incredible, of course, perched as you are 250 metres above the ground. At night, Bangkok's bright lights just seem to stretch on forever. The cocktails are tasty too, if a little on the pricey side for BKK. 1055 Si Lom Road, Si Lom; see Dublin, Ireland Bar 1661 The chances of stumbling upon Bar 1661 accidentally are slim to none, but this Dublin bar stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. Though the impeccable cocktails are made with quirky components such as miso butter, dehydrated chillies and bone marrow, there's zero pretentiousness – just well-worn bar stools, dark walls and chatty bartenders. The star ingredient is poitin, the once-banned Irish moonshine, so try that in their signature Belfast Coffee, where it's shaken with cold brew, cream and nutmeg. 1 – 5 Green Street, Dublin; see Buenos Aires, Argentina Bar Britanico 'Bar' and 'cafe' are used interchangeably in Buenos Aires, which has hundreds of local corner venues for soft and strong drinks. Many have Italian and Spanish connections, but Britanico is one of the few surviving joints with ties to the British presence. These days it's open to allcomers, and is a place to come by day for good cortado or a bottle of beer and, in the evening, enjoy wine or vermouth and perhaps a meal. A few years ago, the bar was threatened with closure, but locals protested, and it was mercifully saved. With chequerboard tiles, windows on the street and calm lighting inside, it's a classic BA experience. Brasil 399, San Telmo, Buenos Aires; see Copenhagen, Denmark La Banchina The Danish capital isn't short of cool cocktail and craft beer joints, but nothing feels quite as quintessentially Copenhagen as laid-back La Banchina, a wine bar/cafe/restaurant on the Refshaleoen waterfront. Behind a small, blue-painted shack lies a large al fresco area where the sunny wooden dock is particularly popular (handy for taking dips in the harbour), though you may prefer a quieter, shadier spot amid the raised beds. To drink? An organic, flower-topped spritz or bottle of natural wine, ideally enjoyed as the sun sets across the water. Refshalevej 141, 1432 Copenhagen; 00 45 31 26 65 61; see Los Angeles, US The Spare Room, Hollywood Roosevelt Generally, hotel bars are rather sad places. But not so in Los Angeles. Here, many of the very best bars can be found in the city's upmarket hotels, from the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel to the Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower. But the best of them all has to be The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Hidden away within the storied hotel, it has plenty of old-school Tinseltown charm, with dark wood panelling, sultry lighting and vintage bowling lanes. Go with friends and order one of their potent punch bowls. 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles; see Jigger and Pony This convivial, low-lit haunt was part of the wave of bars and restaurants that opened in the early 2010s and made the world sit up and take notice of Singapore as a competitive culinary destination. Though beginning as an independent spot, as its fortunes rose (it's now No. 5 on The World's 50 Best Bars), it moved into the more sultry confines of the Amara hotel, yet it retains a welcoming, cosy ambience. The magazine-like menu features helpful photos of each creation – try the Smashing Sundae, a delicious, fruity take on a milk punch. 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore; see Cape Town, South Africa Planet Bar Planet Bar is not exactly traditional, nor is it hip. It's the heart of the posh and locally loved 'Nellie' – the Mount Nelson, a pink confection of a hotel, with white trellised balconies and riotous flowerbeds, contemporary African art and antiques salvaged from the Union-Castle Line it once serviced. Charming waiters have been unruffling feathers here for more than a century, and deep, comfortable chairs house interesting, even famous, guests – local fashionistas, film directors and more. 76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town; see Edinburgh, Scotland Cafe Royal Edinburgh The good folk of Edinburgh have been frequenting this little changed, outrageously ornate example of Victorian decorative excess just off Princes Street since the 1860s. It's always been the place for celebrations, commiserations or just gazing awestruck at acres of mahogany and gilded plasterwork, but there have never been social boundaries here, reflected in stained-glass portrayals of Edinburgh trades and Royal Doulton tiles portraying its great inventors. Blend in with oysters and a glass of champagne and feel the glow. 19 West Register Street, Edinburgh; see Barcelona, Spain Caribbean Club The trend for 'secret' cocktail bars hidden behind fridges and broom cupboards continues apace in Barcelona, but the original speakeasy is still the best. Caribbean Club, hidden behind a wooden door down an El Raval alley, calls itself a 'ronería' – a rum bar – and it stocks an enviable selection, though really you can order whatever you fancy. Styled as a cabin on an old-time cruise ship, it's a cosy bolthole just off La Rambla but a million nautical miles away. Carrer de les Sitges, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona; 34 933 02 21 82; no website Miami, US Sweet Liberty With its cocktail program by homegrown mixology vanguard, the late great John Lermayer, Sweet Liberty is a laid-back neighbourhood spot in South Beach. It kicks up the energy late at night with an eclectic lineup of DJs and live music, but there's always space to tuck away for a more relaxed night out. A favourite among locals and visitors alike, the airy, high-ceilinged space is inviting, with an industrial vibe softened by palm tree-patterned wallpaper. Recommended is Sweet Liberty's pina colada, made with three different rums, coconut cream and Jamaican coffee, and you can't visit without an order of their addictive cauliflower nachos. 237-B 20th Street, Miami Beach; Paris, France Paris has no shortage of slinky drinking spots, but the refined Bar Josephine at Mandarin Oriental Lutetia is a favourite for a special treat. It feels quintessentially Parisian, thanks in part to its location in the historic heart of the Left Bank. Past patrons included Picasso, Cocteau and legendary cabaret star Josephine Baker, after whom it is named – and today it continues to attract a glitzy literary crowd. The fabulously restored art nouveau setting, including an exquisite 1910 mural, helps set the tone. Crucially, the cocktails are simply top-notch. Maestro mixologist Angelo Forte presides over a menu blending classics and more daring contemporary creations. 45 Boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris; see Mexico City, Mexico Zinco Jazz Club Mexico City is, famously, massive, and downtown can feel a bit unfriendly after dark. But a jazz bar is almost always the kindest – as well as the coolest – place to go in a new town. Zinco is a dimly lit, sultry venue housed inside a former bank vault, dating to the 1930s. Red drapes behind the stage and black decor make the ambience feel classy and opulent. It's a showcase for local as well as visiting jazz bands and has an impressively busy roster. There are small tables with food service, but you may prefer to perch yourself by the corner of the bar, enjoy a slow mojito or premium mezcal and a quesadilla. Calle de Motolinia 20, Centro Historico, Centro, Mexico City; see Hong Kong, China Captain's Bar, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong has no shortage of fantastic bars, including nine entries in the 2024 edition of the 50 Best Bars in Asia, but the place that best embodies the city's long cosmopolitan history is the Captain's Bar at the Mandarin Oriental. It is a classic hotel bar, a windowless ruby red box, with low lighting and deep leather armchairs, that has barely changed since the 1980s. The Captain's Bar eschews fads in favour of bartenders dressed in black dickie bows, perfectly mixed martinis and draught beers served in silver tankards (which regulars can have engraved). The live jazz music in the evenings only adds to the timeless vibe. 5 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong; see Five of Australia's best bars Caretakers Cottage, Melbourne In a city where black is always the new black, this diminutive city boozer and its Gothic-revival, bluestone setting is a masterclass in Melbourne-ness. Close quarters mean you'll soon be chatting with regulars about vintage vinyl rarities and drink picks: Guinness on tap or their gloriously glacial house martini? There's no wrong decision. See Maybe Sammy, Sydney You feel instantly at home at Maybe Sammy, which is perhaps what sets it apart from your average bar. Yes, the cocktails here are uber-creative and served with flair, drinks with smoke and bubbles and imaginative blends of high-end ingredients. The food is tasty too. But it's the warmth of the welcome, the easy friendliness of the service, that makes Maybe Sammy Sydney's best. See Loading Mary Mary, Hobart Trust us when we tell you: you have to try the rum Manhattan at Mary Mary. It's crazy good. The bar blends three rums – Mount Gay Black Barrel, Bacardi Reserva Ocho and Plantation Overproof – and ages it in beeswax-coated jars, before serving it high with Pedro Ximenez sherry. Perfection. The historic sandstone walls and charming service just add to the allure. See The Gresham, Brisbane Lovers of fine spirits, rejoice. The Gresham has shelves stacked with some of the finest, rarest bottles around, particularly whisky: try a Balvenie 21-year-old, a Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23, an Old Pulteney 25, an Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries, or dig into the huge ranges of Australian and American whiskies. And then prepare to indulge in stylish surrounds. See Maybe Mae, Adelaide Another indecisive bar name, another excellent bar. Maybe Mae is surely South Australia's leading cocktail bar, with a menu that's broken into four parts: 'From the Market', featuring seasonal produce; 'From the Cellar', using aged juices and preserves; 'Hall of Fame', the bar's most popular; and 'Non-Alcoholic', which gets deserved attention. Grab a dark, leather-bound booth here and soak up the sophistication. See
The Age
21-06-2025
- The Age
Twenty must-visit bars in the world's top cities (plus five in Australia)
The Thai capital is all about rooftop bars, and not just any rooftop – we're talking sky-high rooftops, hundreds of metres above the honk and glitter of the Bangkok streets. One of the best of these is Sky, an open-air bar on the 63rd floor of the Lebua building, a place jam-packed with wow factor from the moment you step out of the lift. The views up here are incredible, of course, perched as you are 250 metres above the ground. At night, Bangkok's bright lights just seem to stretch on forever. The cocktails are tasty too, if a little on the pricey side for BKK. 1055 Si Lom Road, Si Lom; see Dublin, Ireland Bar 1661 The chances of stumbling upon Bar 1661 accidentally are slim to none, but this Dublin bar stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. Though the impeccable cocktails are made with quirky components such as miso butter, dehydrated chillies and bone marrow, there's zero pretentiousness – just well-worn bar stools, dark walls and chatty bartenders. The star ingredient is poitin, the once-banned Irish moonshine, so try that in their signature Belfast Coffee, where it's shaken with cold brew, cream and nutmeg. 1 – 5 Green Street, Dublin; see Buenos Aires, Argentina Bar Britanico 'Bar' and 'cafe' are used interchangeably in Buenos Aires, which has hundreds of local corner venues for soft and strong drinks. Many have Italian and Spanish connections, but Britanico is one of the few surviving joints with ties to the British presence. These days it's open to allcomers, and is a place to come by day for good cortado or a bottle of beer and, in the evening, enjoy wine or vermouth and perhaps a meal. A few years ago, the bar was threatened with closure, but locals protested, and it was mercifully saved. With chequerboard tiles, windows on the street and calm lighting inside, it's a classic BA experience. Brasil 399, San Telmo, Buenos Aires; see Copenhagen, Denmark La Banchina The Danish capital isn't short of cool cocktail and craft beer joints, but nothing feels quite as quintessentially Copenhagen as laid-back La Banchina, a wine bar/cafe/restaurant on the Refshaleoen waterfront. Behind a small, blue-painted shack lies a large al fresco area where the sunny wooden dock is particularly popular (handy for taking dips in the harbour), though you may prefer a quieter, shadier spot amid the raised beds. To drink? An organic, flower-topped spritz or bottle of natural wine, ideally enjoyed as the sun sets across the water. Refshalevej 141, 1432 Copenhagen; 00 45 31 26 65 61; see Los Angeles, US The Spare Room, Hollywood Roosevelt Generally, hotel bars are rather sad places. But not so in Los Angeles. Here, many of the very best bars can be found in the city's upmarket hotels, from the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel to the Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower. But the best of them all has to be The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Hidden away within the storied hotel, it has plenty of old-school Tinseltown charm, with dark wood panelling, sultry lighting and vintage bowling lanes. Go with friends and order one of their potent punch bowls. 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles; see Jigger and Pony This convivial, low-lit haunt was part of the wave of bars and restaurants that opened in the early 2010s and made the world sit up and take notice of Singapore as a competitive culinary destination. Though beginning as an independent spot, as its fortunes rose (it's now No. 5 on The World's 50 Best Bars), it moved into the more sultry confines of the Amara hotel, yet it retains a welcoming, cosy ambience. The magazine-like menu features helpful photos of each creation – try the Smashing Sundae, a delicious, fruity take on a milk punch. 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore; see Cape Town, South Africa Planet Bar Planet Bar is not exactly traditional, nor is it hip. It's the heart of the posh and locally loved 'Nellie' – the Mount Nelson, a pink confection of a hotel, with white trellised balconies and riotous flowerbeds, contemporary African art and antiques salvaged from the Union-Castle Line it once serviced. Charming waiters have been unruffling feathers here for more than a century, and deep, comfortable chairs house interesting, even famous, guests – local fashionistas, film directors and more. 76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town; see Edinburgh, Scotland Cafe Royal Edinburgh The good folk of Edinburgh have been frequenting this little changed, outrageously ornate example of Victorian decorative excess just off Princes Street since the 1860s. It's always been the place for celebrations, commiserations or just gazing awestruck at acres of mahogany and gilded plasterwork, but there have never been social boundaries here, reflected in stained-glass portrayals of Edinburgh trades and Royal Doulton tiles portraying its great inventors. Blend in with oysters and a glass of champagne and feel the glow. 19 West Register Street, Edinburgh; see Barcelona, Spain Caribbean Club The trend for 'secret' cocktail bars hidden behind fridges and broom cupboards continues apace in Barcelona, but the original speakeasy is still the best. Caribbean Club, hidden behind a wooden door down an El Raval alley, calls itself a 'ronería' – a rum bar – and it stocks an enviable selection, though really you can order whatever you fancy. Styled as a cabin on an old-time cruise ship, it's a cosy bolthole just off La Rambla but a million nautical miles away. Carrer de les Sitges, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona; 34 933 02 21 82; no website Miami, US Sweet Liberty With its cocktail program by homegrown mixology vanguard, the late great John Lermayer, Sweet Liberty is a laid-back neighbourhood spot in South Beach. It kicks up the energy late at night with an eclectic lineup of DJs and live music, but there's always space to tuck away for a more relaxed night out. A favourite among locals and visitors alike, the airy, high-ceilinged space is inviting, with an industrial vibe softened by palm tree-patterned wallpaper. Recommended is Sweet Liberty's pina colada, made with three different rums, coconut cream and Jamaican coffee, and you can't visit without an order of their addictive cauliflower nachos. 237-B 20th Street, Miami Beach; Paris, France Paris has no shortage of slinky drinking spots, but the refined Bar Josephine at Mandarin Oriental Lutetia is a favourite for a special treat. It feels quintessentially Parisian, thanks in part to its location in the historic heart of the Left Bank. Past patrons included Picasso, Cocteau and legendary cabaret star Josephine Baker, after whom it is named – and today it continues to attract a glitzy literary crowd. The fabulously restored art nouveau setting, including an exquisite 1910 mural, helps set the tone. Crucially, the cocktails are simply top-notch. Maestro mixologist Angelo Forte presides over a menu blending classics and more daring contemporary creations. 45 Boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris; see Mexico City, Mexico Zinco Jazz Club Mexico City is, famously, massive, and downtown can feel a bit unfriendly after dark. But a jazz bar is almost always the kindest – as well as the coolest – place to go in a new town. Zinco is a dimly lit, sultry venue housed inside a former bank vault, dating to the 1930s. Red drapes behind the stage and black decor make the ambience feel classy and opulent. It's a showcase for local as well as visiting jazz bands and has an impressively busy roster. There are small tables with food service, but you may prefer to perch yourself by the corner of the bar, enjoy a slow mojito or premium mezcal and a quesadilla. Calle de Motolinia 20, Centro Historico, Centro, Mexico City; see Hong Kong, China Captain's Bar, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong has no shortage of fantastic bars, including nine entries in the 2024 edition of the 50 Best Bars in Asia, but the place that best embodies the city's long cosmopolitan history is the Captain's Bar at the Mandarin Oriental. It is a classic hotel bar, a windowless ruby red box, with low lighting and deep leather armchairs, that has barely changed since the 1980s. The Captain's Bar eschews fads in favour of bartenders dressed in black dickie bows, perfectly mixed martinis and draught beers served in silver tankards (which regulars can have engraved). The live jazz music in the evenings only adds to the timeless vibe. 5 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong; see Five of Australia's best bars Caretakers Cottage, Melbourne In a city where black is always the new black, this diminutive city boozer and its Gothic-revival, bluestone setting is a masterclass in Melbourne-ness. Close quarters mean you'll soon be chatting with regulars about vintage vinyl rarities and drink picks: Guinness on tap or their gloriously glacial house martini? There's no wrong decision. See Maybe Sammy, Sydney You feel instantly at home at Maybe Sammy, which is perhaps what sets it apart from your average bar. Yes, the cocktails here are uber-creative and served with flair, drinks with smoke and bubbles and imaginative blends of high-end ingredients. The food is tasty too. But it's the warmth of the welcome, the easy friendliness of the service, that makes Maybe Sammy Sydney's best. See Loading Mary Mary, Hobart Trust us when we tell you: you have to try the rum Manhattan at Mary Mary. It's crazy good. The bar blends three rums – Mount Gay Black Barrel, Bacardi Reserva Ocho and Plantation Overproof – and ages it in beeswax-coated jars, before serving it high with Pedro Ximenez sherry. Perfection. The historic sandstone walls and charming service just add to the allure. See The Gresham, Brisbane Lovers of fine spirits, rejoice. The Gresham has shelves stacked with some of the finest, rarest bottles around, particularly whisky: try a Balvenie 21-year-old, a Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23, an Old Pulteney 25, an Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries, or dig into the huge ranges of Australian and American whiskies. And then prepare to indulge in stylish surrounds. See Maybe Mae, Adelaide Another indecisive bar name, another excellent bar. Maybe Mae is surely South Australia's leading cocktail bar, with a menu that's broken into four parts: 'From the Market', featuring seasonal produce; 'From the Cellar', using aged juices and preserves; 'Hall of Fame', the bar's most popular; and 'Non-Alcoholic', which gets deserved attention. Grab a dark, leather-bound booth here and soak up the sophistication. See
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Helen Garner reflects on the ‘three worst weeks of my life' caring for a dying friend
When Helen Garner arrived at Sydney's Belvoir St theatre last Wednesday, she was worried the next two hours were 'going to be gruesome'. It was opening night of the adaptation of her 2008 novel, The Spare Room, based on her experience caring for a dying friend who came to stay with her. 'They were the three worst weeks of my life, they were just unforgettably dreadful,' Garner said in conversation with Jennifer Byrne at Belvoir on Monday evening. 'I came along [to opening night] feeling that I would find it unbearable to live those three weeks again.' After the show, she crawled into bed 'exhausted'. 'I don't sleep very well now, since I got old, but I got into bed and I slept without moving for nine hours,' Garner said. 'Seeing those three weeks played out on stage resolved something in me.' In The Spare Room, the narrator, Helen, gamely agrees to host her old friend Nicola when she flies from Sydney to Melbourne to attend a cancer clinic, without realising how close to death she is. As the novel opens, Helen is preparing her spare room for her friend – fresh sheets, plumped pillows, a new rug, flowers – confident in her capabilities as a hostess and carer. This is quickly punctured by Nicola's shocking frailty and poor health, and her irrational optimism about her prognosis and the clinic's dubious treatment protocol – which turns out to be Vitamin C injections and 'ozone baths'. There follows a power struggle: Helen's fierce love for her friend gives way to excoriating rage at her delusional positivity and refusal to admit she's dying, while Nicola stubbornly resists Helen's attempts to arrange proper pain medication and palliative care. 'I was cruel to her,' Garner confessed, reflecting on her experience with her friend (Jenya Osborne, who died in 2006), adding: 'When somebody's in a trance of craziness, you want to snap them out of it – and that can make you cruel, harsh.' Belvoir's artistic director, Eamon Flack, who adapted the novel for stage, said it was Garner's frank depiction of an older woman's rage that drew him to it. Garner said she was criticised for precisely this aspect of her novel when it was first published. 'Quite a few older men criticised it because they said it was too full of anger … I was kind of shocked, actually, [because] we rage against death; there's a lot of anger in us when death is in the room.' These criticisms upset her, she admitted. 'You don't want to [be seen as] 'Oh, you're so angry.' 'Why are you so angry, Helen? You're always angry' – that's something people [have said]. Even my grandson said this to me the other day: 'Hel, you're full of anger,'' she said, rearing back in mock rage: 'I said, 'How dare you!'' Not a single woman has criticised The Spare Room for its anger, Garner said; instead, many older women thanked her for depicting the carer's experience. One full-time carer told her: 'Helen, we all feel that anger. We're all tormented by it. Don't be ashamed of it. It's part of the whole thing. You have to go there.' In Belvoir's adaptation, Helen is portrayed by stage and screen veteran Judy Davis – a performance that Garner said she found 'shattering' to watch. 'But it took me a moment to get used to it,' she said. 'I don't go to the theatre much any more. I used to go a lot – I even used to be a theatre critic in the 80s – but now I just look at movies and stuff on TV. And I'd forgotten how actory [theatre] actors are. There's such a lot of big gestures, big movements, and I thought, 'Oh my God, could you just stand still for a moment?' … I kept saying 'I would never do that. I would never run across the room like that'.' Garner said she is not generally a fan of adaptations of her work – but neither does she feel the need to be heavily involved. 'I'm happy to hand stuff over,' she said. 'I wouldn't have wanted to have anything to do with this production … I would feel that I was useless.' One exception was Ken Cameron's 1982 film adaptation of her 1977 novel, Monkey Grip, where she happened to be on set the day they were filming a scene between Noni Hazlehurst and Colin Friels after his character had overdosed. 'He says 'Sorry, Nora', and in the book she says, 'You don't have to say that' – and so Noni [said the line] and I said, 'CUT! That's so wrong. She's in a rage.' But they were going to play it in this soppy, wet [way],' Garner said. 'I'm always glad that I was there.' When Byrne said she would like to see all of Garner's books adapted for stage, Garner retorted with characteristic frankness: 'I'm telling you now, I would hate that. I mean, God, there's so much shit in there.' The audience laughed appreciatively – but the author fixed us with a gimlet eye. 'And when I die, don't think anybody's gonna get in it then, either.' The Spare Room is at Belvoir St theatre, Sydney until 13 July
Sydney Morning Herald
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
An unmissable chance to see two acting greats on stage together
THEATRE THE SPARE ROOM Belvoir St Theatre, June 12 Until July 13 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND ★★★½ As improbable as this seems when we gaze out upon a broken world, or scrutinise our own chaotic lives, living is the easy part. Dying is the trick: not the last breath itself, but the lead-up, once mortality grips you, and asks whether you fight or accept. Helen Garner's confronting novel The Spare Room, peppered with a harsh, dry humour, tells of this. Written in the first person, and drawn from her own experience, it casts Helen as a woman in her 60s dealing with the muddled way of dying of her friend of 15 years, Nicola. Riddled with cancer, Nicola has come to Melbourne to stay in Helen's spare room while embracing alternative therapies. These become an option for the fighter (rather than the acceptor) when the real remedies have been exhausted. Belvoir artistic director Eamon Flack has adapted Garner's book and directed this production starring two of our finest actors: Judy Davis (Helen) and Elizabeth Alexander (Nicola). The challenge in adapting a first-person novel is escaping the narrator's exclusive viewpoint, and dramatising the moment – not what Helen tells us of that moment. In this, Flack only partially succeeds. Garner has Helen hold an almost entirely negative assessment of Nicola from only days into the latter's three-week 'treatment' (which involves bilious doses of intravenous vitamin C). She sees through the quackery, and becomes furious Nicola can't do the same. But in a play we can't just have Helen's viewpoint: we need to understand Nicola more. Flack's overly reverential adaptation means we don't know what initially underpinned their friendship, and with our perception of Nicola being that of Helen, it's impossible to sympathise with Nicola's predicament. She becomes a cypher for victimhood. The play could have drawn us into their friendship, and then switched into a conflict over the dodgy therapy and how to deal with death. The actors give it their best shot. Davis's compelling edginess, chiselled features and physical angularity are the polar opposite of Alexander's wafting, accommodating vulnerability in depicting Nicola's denial and conflict avoidance. The shame is that Alexander's not given more a chance to be a Nicola with an interior and suffering beyond Helen's knowledge because when she finally rages against her lot towards the end, the play is suddenly as electric as Davis has been all along. Emma Diaz, Alan Dukes and Hannah Waterman are all admirable in multiple incidental roles, and Mel Page has created a fluid, naturalistic set. On-stage cellist Anthea Cottee realises Phoebe Pilcher's autumnal score, almost becoming more of a foil for Davis's character than Nicola. Sit near the front if you can because vocal projection is not all it should be, and Flack has blocked the action deep on the stage, distant from the back rows. Nonetheless, he's caught the book's mix of tenderness and harshness, plus the chance to see Davis and Alexander together should not be missed.
The Age
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
An unmissable chance to see two acting greats on stage together
THEATRE THE SPARE ROOM Belvoir St Theatre, June 12 Until July 13 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND ★★★½ As improbable as this seems when we gaze out upon a broken world, or scrutinise our own chaotic lives, living is the easy part. Dying is the trick: not the last breath itself, but the lead-up, once mortality grips you, and asks whether you fight or accept. Helen Garner's confronting novel The Spare Room, peppered with a harsh, dry humour, tells of this. Written in the first person, and drawn from her own experience, it casts Helen as a woman in her 60s dealing with the muddled way of dying of her friend of 15 years, Nicola. Riddled with cancer, Nicola has come to Melbourne to stay in Helen's spare room while embracing alternative therapies. These become an option for the fighter (rather than the acceptor) when the real remedies have been exhausted. Belvoir artistic director Eamon Flack has adapted Garner's book and directed this production starring two of our finest actors: Judy Davis (Helen) and Elizabeth Alexander (Nicola). The challenge in adapting a first-person novel is escaping the narrator's exclusive viewpoint, and dramatising the moment – not what Helen tells us of that moment. In this, Flack only partially succeeds. Garner has Helen hold an almost entirely negative assessment of Nicola from only days into the latter's three-week 'treatment' (which involves bilious doses of intravenous vitamin C). She sees through the quackery, and becomes furious Nicola can't do the same. But in a play we can't just have Helen's viewpoint: we need to understand Nicola more. Flack's overly reverential adaptation means we don't know what initially underpinned their friendship, and with our perception of Nicola being that of Helen, it's impossible to sympathise with Nicola's predicament. She becomes a cypher for victimhood. The play could have drawn us into their friendship, and then switched into a conflict over the dodgy therapy and how to deal with death. The actors give it their best shot. Davis's compelling edginess, chiselled features and physical angularity are the polar opposite of Alexander's wafting, accommodating vulnerability in depicting Nicola's denial and conflict avoidance. The shame is that Alexander's not given more a chance to be a Nicola with an interior and suffering beyond Helen's knowledge because when she finally rages against her lot towards the end, the play is suddenly as electric as Davis has been all along. Emma Diaz, Alan Dukes and Hannah Waterman are all admirable in multiple incidental roles, and Mel Page has created a fluid, naturalistic set. On-stage cellist Anthea Cottee realises Phoebe Pilcher's autumnal score, almost becoming more of a foil for Davis's character than Nicola. Sit near the front if you can because vocal projection is not all it should be, and Flack has blocked the action deep on the stage, distant from the back rows. Nonetheless, he's caught the book's mix of tenderness and harshness, plus the chance to see Davis and Alexander together should not be missed.
