As the Melbourne Theatre Company continues to bring us Pulitzer–Prize winning drama, they continue to remind us why we go to theatre. While the extraordinary 2002 winner TopDog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks finishes its run this week in The Lawler theatre, the also extraordinary 2018 winner Cost of Living by Martyna Majok opens in The Sumner theatre.
John (Oli Pizzey Stratford) is a doctorate student who lives alone and can afford to personally chose and pay his personal staff. Jess (Mable Li) needs a day job as well as her nightly bar jobs to support her mum, who immigrated to the USA from China not long before Jess was born.
When Jess applies for the job of John’s carer – he has cerebral palsy and needs physical assistance to bath and dress – she puts up with his invasive questions about why she needs the job when she’s also been to a posh university and lets him embarrass her for being awkward when she asks about his disability.
Truck driver Eddie (Aaron Pedersen) misses Ani (Rachel Edmonds), his wife of 20 years, and hopes that his cheating is forgivable because he needs work and Ani needs a carer after a spinal cord injury left her with only minimal movement in one arm. As she’s still under his medical insurance, he still has some control over their relationship and her poverty leaves her with little choice.
The cost of living isn’t only money, even if it’s all you can think about if you don’t have enough. Money can give physical comfort and security, but John has no idea how Jess sees his very nice apartment. Ani’s apartment is barely functionable but it’s where Eddie wants to be.
Ani and John spend most of their time in their apartments. Both – and the space beyond them – are reflected in Matilda Woodroofe’s design. They teeter on the edge of extreme and are seen through the eyes of the people who want to live in them.
Is the cost of being alive being alone? What’s the cost of touch, of loving touch, of trust? Ani feels the pain from Eddie’s behaviour even if she can’t feel his touch. But she tries to supress her anger and resentment because she needs his help.
What does it really cost to feel safe when you are vulnerable? What do we sacrifice or ignore so that we are not alone?
Director Anthea Williams ensures that there’s no chance of pity driving the action, supporting the script that ensures that any assumptions about disability, race and poverty are dismissed as the power dynamics in the two relationships shift and change in ways that confront expectations.
And all are supported by a cast who consistently let their characters keep the masks and behaviours that help them feel safe while letting the audience feel the confusion and fear that’s really driving them.
As the cost of living is also money, the cost of theatre tickets can be restrictive – Jess, Ani and Eddie have likely never been to the theatre. So, there are access options, including concession, industry, rush and up-front tickets, because theatre this good should never just be for those who can easily afford tickets.
Cost of Living
Southbank Theatre – The Sumner, Southbank Boulevard, Southbank
Performance: Thursday 19 September 2024
Season continues to 19 October 2024
Information and Bookings: www.mtc.com.au
Images: Mabel Li and Oli Pizzey Stratford – photo by Pia Johnson | Rachel Edmonds and Aaron Pedersen – photo by Pia Johnson
Review: Anne-Marie Peard