The Hangmen is a seemingly sinister tale of a bygone era that quickly and cunningly turns into a riotous farce.
Harry was once one of England’s most famous and renowned hangmen, but now he is nothing more than a publican, suffering under the weight of needy drunks and a wayward daughter. Soon however, a series of intriguingly connected events puts his moral compass to the test.
Martin McDonagh’s writing is his usual blend of downtrodden characters and comments on the society they inhabit, however a lot of this particular work just doesn’t land. The world building is clunky, with the core story equally confusing and predictable and the satirical through line running out of steam well before the work ends.
Deborah Mulhall has a clear and concise view point when it comes to her direction of the work, however it is this militant focus that dampens down the joy within the text and robs the performers of any spontaneity. There are interesting moments and clever touches scattered throughout which clearly display creative intent but little else is done to lift the work out of a paint by numbers production.
Alastair Brown, Kim Clifton, Nathan Farrow, Madison Gooley, Owen Hirschfeld, Sonya Kerr, Tom Massey, Jim McCrudden, Jack Elliot Mitchell, Gerry Mullaly Georgia Nicholas, Reuben Solomon and Robert Snars bring a playful joy and cheeky whimsy to the work, with each performer easily straddling the dramatic and comedic needs of their character and the story.
The cohesion of the ensemble means that the weaker performers are still bolstered up and those with sharper skills are able to maintain the ebb and flow of the world without losing their moments to shine.
Tom Bannerman’s startlingly detailed set immerses both the actors and the audience into the world of The Hangman and provides a perfect canvas for Timothy M Carter’s lighting to literally shine. Mehran Mortezaei, and Deborah Mulhall’s sound choices are a touch baffling but they undeniably work in more than a few moments.
The New Theatre’s The Hangman is a perfectly adequate production that allows the varying levels of talented creatives involved to showcase their potential to grow and further foster their craft.
Hangmen
New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown
Performance: Friday 16 August 2024
Season continues to 14 September 2024
Information and Bookings: www.newtheatre.org.au
Image: The Cast of Hangmen – photo by Bob Seary
Review: Gavin Roach